Trump’s Sister, Judge Mary Trump-Barry Retires, Ending Tax Probe Into Her

While the children of President Donald Trump are frequently in the news, less is known of his siblings. His brother Fred Sr. died in 1981 after struggles with alcoholism. His siblings, Elizabeth and Robert live relatively quiet lives. Trump’s older sister, Mary Trump Barry, is a judge who was appointed to the US Court of Appeals by Bill Clinton.

Trump-Barry has largely avoided the spotlight her younger brother craves. In October, The New York Times reported that Barry was involved in tax schemes meant to avoid estate taxes. The president’s elder sister has recently announced her retirement. This retirement will effectively end an investigation into her alleged tax improprieties.

Following her brother’s inauguration, Trump-Barry stopped hearing cases to avoid potential conflicts on interest. A complaint was made against the judge after the story appeared.

A court order reads, “The complaints allege, on the basis of a news article, that the then-inactive senior circuit judge may have committed misconduct relating to tax and financial transactions.”

The 82 year-old judge’s retirement will end any kind of investigation. According to the Times, “retired judges are not subject to the conduct rules.”

The Washington Post’s Catherine Rampell  noted the symmetry between the situations of the president and his sister. She wrote, “Funny how Maryanne Trump Barry needs to leave her job to be immune from consequences, and her brother needs to keep his for the same reason.”

Funny how Maryanne Trump Barry needs to leave her job to be immune from consequences, and her brother needs to keep his for the same reason https://t.co/k6QhEMHi0b

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) April 10, 2019

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The White House has strenuously denied the claims made in the initial New York Times story. A Trump lawyer, Charles Harder, said, “The New York Times’s allegations of fraud and tax evasion are 100 percent false, and highly defamatory.”