Charles Littlejohn, a former contractor with the Internal Revenue Service, was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday for leaking confidential tax records. Littlejohn, who pleaded guilty in October, disclosed the tax information of former President Donald Trump, and billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, among others, to various news organizations. Prosecutors argued that Littlejohn misused his access to sensitive data for personal and political reasons, leading to his maximum sentence under federal law.
U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes, overseeing the case in Washington, also imposed a $5,000 fine on Littlejohn. During the sentencing, Reyes emphasized the gravity of Littlejohn’s actions, stating they were akin to an attack on the United States’ constitutional democracy. She likened his offenses to recent threats against elected officials and referenced the seriousness of the January 6 defendants she has sentenced. However, she acknowledged Littlejohn’s belief in a moral imperative for his actions.
Littlejohn, 38, from St. Louis, Missouri, expressed remorse in court, admitting to a sincere but misguided belief that he was serving the public interest. His defense highlighted his deep moral conviction that the American public had a right to know about the tax affairs of the wealthy and powerful. Despite acknowledging his inexcusable conduct, Littlejohn’s lawyer argued that his client’s actions were driven by a desire to inform Americans and effect change in the system.
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