# Jim Jordan and Darrell Issa Ask for a Misconduct Review of the Judge Who Sanctioned Trump's Lawyers in the IRS Case

House Judiciary Republicans say Judge Kathleen Williams overstepped by sanctioning two Trump attorneys after the IRS suit was voluntarily dismissed. They want the Judicial Conference to respond by Nov. 5.

- Section: [Politics](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/politics/)
- Published: 2026-10-22
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/jim-jordan-misconduct-complaint-judge-kathleen-williams-trump-irs-lawyers-sanctions/

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is asking the federal judiciary to investigate a judge who sanctioned President Trump's lawyers. Fox News reports, as a "First on Fox" item, that Jordan and Rep. Darrell Issa, who chairs the panel's courts subcommittee, wrote to the Judicial Conference of the United States about Judge Kathleen Williams of the Southern District of Florida. She was appointed by President Obama.

The background. Trump, his sons Eric and Donald Jr., and the Trump Organization sued the IRS in early 2026 for $10 billion, after an agency contractor leaked the president's tax returns. The contractor, Charles Littlejohn, was sentenced to five years in prison. Trump had the suit voluntarily dismissed in May. Soon after, the administration announced a settlement that included $1.776 billion for an "anti-weaponization fund" for victims of alleged "lawfare" under the Biden administration. Fox says Trump would receive no money but would get a formal apology and a bar on IRS audits of him and his family.

The sanctions. Williams accused the plaintiffs of manipulating the courts to reach the settlement. In a July 13 order she sanctioned two of Trump's lawyers: she referred Alejandro Brito to the Florida Bar for possible discipline and barred Daniel Epstein from practicing before her for at least a year.

The complaint. Jordan and Issa wrote that "there is evidence that Judge Williams abused her judicial authority and violated fundamental tenets of judicial impartiality." They call the timing "suspect" because the order came after the case was withdrawn, and they say she leaned on an amicus brief from Democracy Defenders Action, filed on behalf of 35 former federal judges, which urged her to reopen the case and called the settlement "fraud." They say they know of no Eleventh Circuit precedent for using inherent sanctions power after a voluntary dismissal on the basis of briefing from outside parties. They want an answer on steps taken by 5 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2026.

Issa's statement to Fox called the federal judges who "make up the Trump Resistance in Robes" a disappointment, and said Williams "crossed a bright ethical line by going after his attorneys."

The other side. Fox notes Democrats backed Williams' skepticism of the settlement, and that the fund has been blocked by other courts and drawn bipartisan pushback.

Note for readers: this is a congressional request, not a finding of misconduct. We have not seen the letter or Williams' order.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/obama-appointed-judge-center-trumps-anti-weaponization-fund-case-hit-misconduct-claim)