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If President Donald Trump is successful in his lawsuit to sue the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for $10 billion over the leak of his tax returns, U.S. taxpayers will be footing the bill, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Thursday.

In a hearing by the Senate Banking Committee, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) asked, “let’s say, for some reason, he actually wins that lawsuit, where would that $10 billion come from?”

Bessent stuttered, then said, when pushed: “It would come from Treasury…. The Treasury General Account,” referring to the account that tax payments flow into that the government uses for payments and other purposes.

“So, taxpayers,” Gallego said.

“Yes,” Bessent answered. “Part of the 440,000 taxpayers whose returns were leaked.”

“They’re not suing,” the senator clarified, adding, “If the president prevails in this lawsuit, he’s going to be able to pocket that........

© Truthout