Former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn, who leaked ex-President Trump’s tax returns, received a five-year prison sentence on Monday.
IRS contractor sentenced, Judge condemns the act as an attack on ‘constitutional democracy’
Judge Ana Reyes strongly criticized Littlejohn’s actions, calling the leak “an intolerable attack on our constitutional democracy.” The sentence also entails 36 months of supervised release and a $5,000 fine.
“The press tells us Democracy dies in darkness. It also dies in lawlessness,” Judge Reyes stated. “There are numerous lawful means to bring things to light. Trump was under no obligation to expose his returns. People could vote for someone else. They could run against him.”
According to federal prosecutors, Littlejohn deliberately secured a position as an IRS consultant in 2019 with the explicit intention of leaking President Trump’s tax returns. Littlejohn had previously worked for Booz Allen between 2008 and 2013 but re-entered the company as an IRS consultant in 2017.
Prosecutors allege that this career move was strategically planned to provide him access to confidential tax information, enabling him to disclose Trump’s tax returns. The Department of Justice claims that Littlejohn perceived Trump as a threat to democracy.
Littlejohn’s politically motivated misuse of taxpayer data unveiled in trial
“[Littlejohn] weaponized his access to unmasked taxpayer data to further his own personal political agenda, believing that he was above the law,” prosecutors said during the trial.
“A free press and public engagement with the media are critical to any healthy democracy, but stealing and leaking private, personal tax information strips individuals of the legal protection of their most sensitive data,” they added.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Reyes echoed the sentiments of prosecutors, stating that Littlejohn had evidently devised a long-term plan to infringe upon Trump’s privacy.
“He did not make a snap judgment. He made a series of decisions. This court cannot let others view this conduct as acceptable. I need to send the strongest possible message that we are a nation of laws,” Reyes said Monday.
