Posted on 01/29/2024 12:42:17 PM PST by Impala64ssa
A former IRS consultant was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday for leaking tax information about “thousands of the nation’s wealthiest individuals” to news outlets between 2018 and 2020.
Charles Littlejohn, 38, pleaded guilty in October to one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax return and return information after reaching a plea agreement with government prosecutors.
The Justice Department did not name the news outlets or individuals whose tax information was disclosed, though the description and timeline of Littlejohn’s actions coincided with reporting in The New York Times and ProPublica about former President Trump’s tax returns. In his court filings, Littlejohn confirmed he sent the records to those outlets
The New York Times published a story titled “Long-concealed records show Trump’s chronic losses and years of tax avoidance” on Sept. 27, 2020 — the same day prosecutors say the first article linked to Littlejohn’s leaks was published.
The second outlet, which Littlejohn indicated is ProPublica, published nearly 50 articles beginning in June 2021 based on the tax return information Littlejohn disclosed, the Justice Department said.
Prosecutors requested a five-year sentence for Littlejohn, purporting he applied to work with the IRS with the intention of accessing and disclosing tax returns.
“Defendant weaponized his access to unmasked taxpayer data to further his own personal, political agenda, believing that he was above the law,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.
The Justice Department also said that while a free press and public engagement with media are “critical to any healthy democracy,” the “stealing and leaking” of private tax information “strips individuals of the legal protection of their most sensitive data.”
Littlejohn said in court filings that he should receive a lesser sentence for cooperating with the government and admitting to stealing the records and providing them to reporters.
“He committed this offense out of a deep, moral belief that the American people had a right to know the information and sharing it was the only way to effect change,” his lawyer, Lisa Manning, wrote in a sentencing memo. “He did what he thought was right at the time, but now fully acknowledges that he was wrong.”
The Associated Press contributed.
The left refers to that as nothing more than “taking one for the team”........he will be, if he hasn’t already been, compensated for his efforts.
He can take it up the rump from bubba for the team
Yeah, now he is sorry. At first, he was proud of his actions and said he had to do it for the good of society....yada...yada...yada...
He can thank the progressives
He is flying to jail for 5 years while his progressives colleagues abandoned him lolooooo 😂
He should have thought twice , but those people aren’t to bright. They really aren’t.
I’m very satisfied today reading this story
He's just another liberal who took the law into his own hands, thinking he was above the law. Five years? I bet he's out in less than 6 months. He wasn't charged with the number of crimes he should have been. The DOJ went easy on him. Like Clinton pal Sandy Berger, he deliberately, and systematically stole tax records over a period of time, and leaked 15+ years of tax returns of thousands of people to the press. The papers he leaked the returns to tried to turn him into a whistleblower. His family members tried to claim he did it because he was suffering from the death of his sister that had occurred in 2013, well over six years prior to his crimes. I love it when people try to justify criminal behavior, and push for leniency.
He's sorry he got caught.
I love when democrats martyr themselves. Especially when their dastardly actions backfire on them.
As with a murder, what should really weigh on the sentencing for this felony is “the intent to commit the crime, with willful, premeditated and malice aforethought”
He knew it was a crime, yet planned and worked diligently to commit it.
Some may recall the news from a couple weeks ago. I attach a link to the NBC treatment of the story where, per plea agreement, the DOJ estimated a sentencing range of 8-14 months, with both sides able to argue for deviation up or down. I didn’t think that was sufficient deterrent for these vermin who, in their insufferable self-righteousness, perennially think they’re above the law
Sounds like the judge maxed him out. A nice surprise, reminds me of that little dumpling who worked for a defense contractor and got a bunch of years for leaking classified info. I hate to break it to our imbecile “friends” on the other side, but strict punishment deters crime. This sentence has some teeth to it, and I welcome it
Some may recall the news from a couple weeks ago. I attach a link to the NBC treatment of the story where, per plea agreement, the DOJ estimated a sentencing range of 8-14 months, with both sides able to argue for deviation up or down. I didn’t think that was sufficient deterrent for these vermin who, in their insufferable self-righteousness, perennially think they’re above the law
Sounds like the judge maxed him out. A nice surprise, reminds me of that little dumpling who worked for a defense contractor and got a bunch of years for leaking classified info. I hate to break it to our imbecile “friends” on the other side, but strict punishment deters crime. This sentence has some teeth to it, and I welcome it
This is why I think Hunter’s tax issues really are a big deal.
For .gov punishing folks who abuse the tax system is much more important than any other crime.
It is the .gov meal ticket—and they like to eat.
This:
The Justice Department did not name the news outlets or individuals whose tax information was disclosed, though the
description and timeline of Littlejohn’s actions coincided
with reporting in The New York Times and ProPublica about
former President Trump’s tax returns. In his court filings,
Littlejohn confirmed he sent the records to those outlets.
The New York Times published a story titled “Long-concealed
records show Trump’s chronic losses and years of tax
avoidance” on Sept. 27, 2020 — the same day prosecutors say
the first article linked to Littlejohn’s leaks was
published.
end of clip
It’s honestly amazing how much Trump’s privacy and business
dealings were invaded by different groups.
It seems like there are a number of charges against him,
but in truth, there is very little against him considering
them looking at every aspect of his life, trying to
destroy him.
This Carroll case and the case claiming the pulled fraud
against lending institutions are good examples of how
they have twisted the laws and rules to destroy him.
Hasn’t worked so far, and I credit a lot of people for
seeing through the propaganda.
On Instagram today, there have been post after post just
blistering Trump. You’d think 95% of the contributors
there hate him.
One guy put up a poll. Trump got close to 90%, and all
the little paid Trump trolls couldn’t muster much of
anything for Joe.
Closing the barn door after the only horse they wanted released.
He was probably radicalized and egged on by social media algorithms created by the same people who are prosecuting him.
Yes indeed.
If he hasn’t already been, compensated for his efforts.
Agree bet he gets to do time in one of the luxury prisons with no gates.
Just have to be back in your bungalow before 6:00 pm call.
So since the Gnu Yak Thymes published excerpts from tthe STOLEN tax returns, doesn’t that make the NYT a criminal for the receipt of STOLEN goods?
President Trump, Sue the merde out of the Sultzburgers.
He should have gotten more than 5 years IMO. However, 5 years in a Federal Prison is no joke, no parole and maybe 6 to 9 months off for good behaviour.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.