Charles Littlejohn, formerly employed as a contractor with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), has been sentenced to a five-year prison term for leaking the tax returns of former President Donald Trump. The sentence was handed down on Monday by Judge Ana Reyes, who also imposed a $5,000 fine and stipulated 36 months of supervised release following the prison term.
Judge Reyes, in her remarks, described Littlejohn’s actions as “an intolerable attack on our constitutional democracy.” She emphasized the importance of lawful means to address political disagreements and noted that former President Trump was under no legal obligation to disclose his tax returns.
Prosecutors in the case pointed out that Littlejohn’s employment as an IRS consultant was a deliberate move to gain access to confidential tax information. He returned to Booz Allen, where he had worked from 2008 to 2013, in 2017 with the specific intent of acquiring and leaking Trump’s tax returns. According to the Department of Justice, Littlejohn perceived Trump as a threat to democracy.
During the trial, prosecutors accused Littlejohn of abusing his position to advance his personal political agenda, stating that he “weaponized his access to unmasked taxpayer data.” They stressed the significance of a free press and public engagement with media in a democracy but highlighted that stealing and leaking private tax information violates legal protections of sensitive data.
Judge Reyes echoed these sentiments in her sentencing, pointing out that Littlejohn’s actions were not impulsive but part of a long-term strategy to infringe upon Trump’s privacy. She underscored the need to send a strong message that such conduct is not acceptable in a nation governed by laws.
The sentencing of Charles Littlejohn serves as a stark reminder of the legal consequences of unauthorized disclosure of private tax information and the importance of upholding the integrity of confidential data in government positions.