Devendra Kumar
A former contractor for the Internal Revenue Service has been charged with stealing and leaking tax return information about thousands of the country’s wealthiest individuals. Charles Edward Littlejohn, 38, is accused of providing the sensitive information to two news outlets between 2018 and 2020. According to charging documents, Littlejohn leaked the information, which included tax returns dating back over 15 years, to the news outlets, who then published numerous articles about the wealthy individuals’ tax information. The outlets, which are not named in the charging documents, are reportedly well-known for their investigative journalism and have published stories about high-profile individuals, including former President Donald Trump.
As an example, The New York Times published a report in 2020 that found Trump paid only $750 in federal income tax in 2016, the year he was sworn into office. The report also noted that Trump did not pay income tax at all in some years due to massive losses. Additionally, ProPublica, a non-profit investigative journalism organization, published a report in 2021 that analyzed tax return data from the wealthiest Americans, finding that the top 25 earners in the country paid a smaller percentage of their income in taxes than many ordinary workers do.
The leaks of tax return information have sparked widespread outrage and calls for reform, as well as an investigation into the leak. The disclosure of taxpayer information is illegal and has specific legal protections in place to prevent unauthorized disclosure. Littlejohn is charged with one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has taken the leaks very seriously and has since tightened security measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Commissioner Danny Werfel stated, “Any disclosure of taxpayer information is unacceptable.” The IRS did not comment specifically on the case, but it is clear that the agency is committed to protecting taxpayer information and ensuring that it is not leaked to the public.
In this case, Littlejohn’s alleged actions could have serious consequences for the individuals whose tax information was leaked, including Trump. The former president and others whose information was leaked may face increased scrutiny and potentially even legal action due to the unauthorized disclosure of their tax information. As the investigation continues, it is likely that more details will emerge about Littlejohn’s motivations and the extent to which he shared taxpayer information with the news outlets.