Former IRS Contractor Who Leaked Donald Trump Tax Returns Pleads Guilty

A former IRS contractor has pleaded guilty to unauthorized disclosure of tax information, admitting to leaking former President Donald Trump tax return details to news outlets during the period spanning from 2018 to 2020, according to FOX News.

The individual in question, Charles Littlejohn, aged 38, reportedly divulged tax returns of Trump and other numerous affluent individuals to various news organizations.

Additionally, he shared tax information related to a "high-ranking government official" with a second news outlet. Notably, the complaint does not explicitly mention former President Trump.

During a court hearing, Charles Littlejohn pled guilty to one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax return and return information, affirming his role in the leaks.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland voiced his concerns regarding the incident, asserting that Littlejohn had violated the public's trust and engaged in the theft and public disclosure of confidential tax information.

Attorney Garland stated, "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. In every case, the Department of Justice is committed to following the facts wherever they lead and holding accountable those who violate our laws."

The Tax Information From Former IRS Contractor

According to the information released by the Justice Department, Littlejohn shared details regarding a public official with one news organization during the period from August 2019 to October 2019.

Subsequently, the news outlet published a series of articles related to public officials in September 2020, per The Hill.

In the months of July and August 2020, Littlejohn proceeded to provide a second news organization with tax return information pertaining to the nation's wealthiest individuals, and this information was later used to produce articles.

While neither the press release from the Justice Department nor the complaint explicitly mentioned the names of former President Trump or the specific news outlets involved, reports said that the description of the IRS contractor's actions and the timeline align with reporting by The New York Times and ProPublica regarding the tax returns of the former president.

The Justice Department's statement indicates that Littlejohn accessed the tax returns through an IRS database and stored this sensitive information on personal storage devices, including an iPod.

Former President Donald Trump's Impact Statement

The impact of the contractor's crime has been substantial, affecting numerous individuals to such an extent that prosecutors intend to establish a public website for notifying the victims about any developments in the case.

During the plea hearing, an attorney representing former President Trump presented a victim impact statement, denouncing the act as "an egregious breach," CNN reports.

Alina Habba, Trump's attorney, pointed out that Trump's tax returns were securely stored in an IRS vault, insinuating that the unauthorized disclosure might have influenced the 2020 election outcome.

Habba expressed Trump's opposition to the plea deal and advocated for the maximum penalty of five years in prison for Littlejohn.

Federal Judge Ana Reyes, presiding over the case, concurred with the sentiment, emphasizing the unacceptability of individuals taking the law into their own hands.

She remarked, "I cannot overstate how troubled I am by what occurred. Make no mistake, this was not acceptable."

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for January 29 to determine the legal consequences of Charles Littlejohn's actions.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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