IRS contractor admits to leaking Trump’s tax records and numerous others.
A contractor for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) pleaded guilty Thursday to illegally disclosing the tax returns of former President Donald Trump and thousands of other prominent individuals’ tax records.
Charles Littlejohn, a 38-year-old IRS consultant in Washington D.C., was charged by federal prosecutors last month with a single count of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information. According to a DOJ press release, Littlejohn stole the tax information of a “high-ranking public official” and leaked it to “News Organization 1.” The “high-ranking” government official has been identified as Donald Trump, whose tax returns were leaked to The New York Times weeks before the 2020 election.
“By using his role as a government contractor to gain access to private tax information, steal that information, and disclose it publicly, Charles Littlejohn broke federal law and betrayed the public’s trust,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “In every case, the Department of Justice is committed to following the facts wherever they lead and holding accountable those who violate our laws.”
But true accountability would carry a higher penalty than a single charge in a case where thousands of tax records were prominently released to major news organizations. According to the DOJ, Littlejohn “separately stole tax return information for thousands of the nation’s wealthiest individuals” and then “disclosed this tax return information to News Organization 2.” Fox News identified News Organization 2 as the left-wing smear factory ProPublica.
In the summer of 2021, ProPublica published “The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax.” Individuals whose tax records were released include Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Michael Bloomberg.
“ProPublica has obtained a vast trove of Internal Revenue Service data on the tax returns of thousands of the nation’s wealthiest people, covering more than 15 years,” the group reported. “The data provides an unprecedented look inside the financial lives of America’s titans, including Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, and Mark Zuckerberg. It shows not just their income and taxes, but also their investments, stock trades, gambling winnings, and even the results of audits.”
[RELATED:[RELATED:Billionaires Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Mike Bloomberg Dodged Federal Income Taxes]
The maximum penalty for Littlejohn’s crimes is five years in prison. Littlejohn will be sentenced on Jan. 29, 2024, according to the Department of Justice.
The DOJ indictment was served after two whistleblowers from the federal tax agency publicly accused the Justice Department of attempting to hinder efforts to investigate President Joe Biden’s family finances. Whistleblowers say the DOJ thwarted investigative efforts, slow-walked cooperation with tax agents, and even concealed critical evidence implicating Biden in a criminal bribery scheme. According to veteran IRS agent Gary Shapley, the most significant felonies “were left off the table” when prosecutors unveiled their since-derailed plea agreement with Hunter Biden.
Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist and the author of Social Justice Redux, a conservative newsletter on culture, health, and wellness. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has also been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University where he majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at [email protected]. Sign up for Tristan’s email newsletter here.
How can the IRS improve its security protocols to prevent unauthorized access to tax records in the future?
IRS Contractor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Disclosing Tax Returns of Former President Donald Trump and Prominent Individuals
In a shocking turn of events, a contractor working for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has pleaded guilty to illegally disclosing the tax returns of former President Donald Trump and thousands of other prominent individuals. Charles Littlejohn, a 38-year-old IRS consultant based in Washington D.C., was charged by federal prosecutors last month with a single count of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Littlejohn, in his position as a government contractor, gained access to private tax information and proceeded to steal and publicly disclose it. The stolen tax information of a “high-ranking public official” was leaked to ”News Organization 1,” which was later identified as The New York Times. This revelation occurred just weeks before the 2020 election, causing considerable controversy.
Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed his outrage at Littlejohn’s actions, stating that he had broken federal law and betrayed the public’s trust. Garland emphasized the commitment of the Department of Justice to investigate such cases thoroughly and hold accountable those who violate the law.
However, the single charge against Littlejohn seems inadequate considering the gravity of the situation. The DOJ has revealed that Littlejohn also separately stole tax return information for thousands of the nation’s wealthiest individuals and disclosed it to “News Organization 2,” identified as ProPublica. In a damning report titled “The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax,” ProPublica exposed the tax records of prominent figures such as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Michael Bloomberg.
ProPublica’s report claimed to have obtained an extensive collection of Internal Revenue Service data, covering more than 15 years, on the tax returns of the nation’s wealthiest individuals. It provided unprecedented insights into their financial lives, revealing not only their income and taxes but also their investments, stock trades, gambling winnings, and even audit results.
The revelation of such sensitive information raises concerns about privacy and the abuse of power within the IRS. The fact that Littlejohn was able to gain unauthorized access to tax records of thousands of individuals, including high-profile billionaires, speaks to significant lapses in the IRS’s security measures.
To ensure true accountability, it is crucial that a more substantial penalty be imposed on Littlejohn in this case. Disclosing thousands of tax records to major news organizations cannot be treated as a minor offense. The breach of trust and invasion of privacy demand a more severe consequence to deter others from similar actions.
The IRS must also undertake a comprehensive review of its security protocols to prevent similar breaches in the future. The leak of sensitive tax information not only undermines the public’s confidence in government institutions but also has the potential to cause irreparable harm to the affected individuals.
The full extent of the damage caused by Littlejohn’s actions and the subsequent publication of the tax records remains to be seen. Nevertheless, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding personal information and the dire consequences that can arise when those entrusted with such data violate their responsibilities.
As the investigations and legal proceedings unfold, it is imperative that justice prevails, ensuring that those responsible for such breaches are held fully accountable. The IRS must take immediate steps to rectify the flaws in its security systems and restore trust in its ability to protect the privacy of taxpayers.
In conclusion, the illegal disclosure of tax returns, especially those of public figures and wealthy individuals, is a grave offense that warrants significant consequences. The guilty plea of an IRS contractor involved in such misconduct underscores the need for stricter measures to safeguard sensitive information and preserve the integrity of our institutions.
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