Staff Reports
A former IRS contractor, Charles Littlejohn, received a well-deserved five-year prison sentence for illegally leaking the tax records of prominent figures including former President Donald Trump, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk. U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes handed down the sentence, emphasizing the severity of Littlejohn’s actions, stating that his targeting of the sitting president was nothing short of an attack on our constitutional democracy.
Former IRS Contractor Who Leaked Trump's Tax Records Learns His Sentence via @WestJournalism https://t.co/qGKiqjs0at
— Lumpy Rwsx (@LumpyRwsx) January 30, 2024
Littlejohn shamelessly released sensitive tax information of high-profile individuals, justifying his actions as a form of activism. His lawyer attempted to defend his client by claiming that Littlejohn believed he was serving the public interest. However, his attempt to justify his criminal behavior fell flat, and his actions were rightfully condemned as a breach of trust and a violation of taxpayers’ privacy.
Not only did Littlejohn make Trump’s tax returns public, but he also shared privileged financial information with left-wing media outlets such as ProPublica and The New York Times. This egregious act not only compromised the privacy of these individuals but also served as a blatant attempt to further a political agenda by weaponizing sensitive taxpayer data.
The leaked information was used to push a narrative that sought to discredit and smear the reputation of these individuals, especially then-President Trump. The New York Times, citing Littlejohn as the source, published articles insinuating that Trump paid minimal income tax, and even baselessly claimed that he paid no income taxes in certain years. ProPublica also utilized Littlejohn’s leak to publish a story aimed at vilifying wealthy individuals for legally minimizing their tax obligations.
In a feeble attempt to justify his actions, Littlejohn argued that he leaked the information to shed light on how rich people allegedly avoided paying taxes. However, his actions were nothing short of criminal, and the court rightfully held him accountable for his betrayal of trust and the flagrant violation of privacy and the law.
