A former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) contractor, Charles Littlejohn, who leaked tax records of former President Donald Trump to The New York Times, along with descriptions of billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, has been sentenced to five years in jail.
Littlejohn pleaded guilty in October, and prosecutors pushed for the maximum penalty, stating that he unlawfully disclosed thousands of Americans’ federal tax returns and other private financial information to multiple news organisations.
During the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes in Washington, prosecutors argued that Littlejohn “weaponized his access to unmasked taxpayer data to further his own personal, political agenda, believing that he was above the law.” Judge Reyes emphasized the severity of Littlejohn’s actions, describing them as an attack on the constitutional democracy of the United States.
Littlejohn, who grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, expressed regret for his actions, stating that he acted out of a sincere but misguided belief that he was serving the public interest.
He believed taxpayers deserved to know how easily the wealthy could avoid paying taxes and that sharing this information was necessary to effect change.
Despite his attorney acknowledging the inexcusable nature of Littlejohn’s actions and the breach of trust with the government, they argued that a strong message of general deterrence had already been conveyed to the public.
In her remarks, Judge Reyes compared Littlejohn’s actions to other recent attacks on elected officials and to defendants involved in the events of January 6. While recognizing the complexity of his criminal scheme, she acknowledged his perceived moral imperative but ultimately handed down the sentence of five years in federal prison along with a $5,000 fine.
