The president’s sister, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, apparently left her seat on the Third Circuit earlier this year. Barry pulled off her February retirement without much fanfare, but people started to notice the judge’s absence this week. The 82-year-old judge apparently decided it was time to step aside, enjoy a blissful retirement, and squelch an investigation into her family’s long history of financial… issues.

Specifically, the NY Times’ report that built a detailed case that Fred Trump broke all sorts of tax laws to set up his kids — including Judge Barry and the current president — with a tidy fortune. The president’s attorneys have branded the report defamatory. The president’s attorneys have not taken any action over this claim because, you know, “discovery.”

Now, the government can’t prosecute someone for tax evasion that took place over 30 years ago, but the courts can launch an ethical inquiry into a sitting judge’s involvement in criminality.

And that’s what was happening and almost certainly why Judge Barry is now former Judge Barry. The court informed a complainant that the matter was being looked into as of February 1. She resigned on February 11, rendering the investigation moot.

If this move looks familiar, it’s because we saw the exact same maneuver when then-Judge Alex Kozinski bailed on his job to squelch an investigation into sexual misconduct.

Three cheers for the rule of law.

How many federal judges are we at now where a recent “retirement” has prevented investigation/punishment & and they’re still receiving a full pension?

– Maryanne Barry

– Alex Kozinski

– Richard Roberts

– Any others? This is not a good look, @uscourts. — Fix the Court (@FixTheCourt) April 11, 2019

Oh, right. Let’s not forget that judges who preemptively resign in order to short-circuit investigations that could result in their impeachment still get to hold onto their full pension! The taxpayers are still on the hook for paying a multimillionaire — potentially garnered through malfeasance — for life because she had the foresight to walk away before the investigation could get rolling.

America has truly been rendered great again.

Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.