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Ex-IRS consultant sentenced to 5 years in prison for leaked tax returns
The Hell ^ | 1/29/23 | Ella Lee

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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: irs; taxavoidance; trump; urs
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So NOW he realizes what he did was wrong but snooping around Pres Trump's tax returns looking for the flimsiest of evidence of tax avoidance was for the greater good



Tax EVASION is illegal. If legal loopholes and deductions are available tax AVOIDANCE is legit. Libs tend to get sloppy with their gaslighting.
1 posted on 01/29/2024 12:42:17 PM PST by Impala64ssa
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To: Impala64ssa

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.


2 posted on 01/29/2024 12:46:14 PM PST by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: V_TWIN

He can take it up the rump from bubba for the team


3 posted on 01/29/2024 12:48:03 PM PST by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: Impala64ssa

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...


4 posted on 01/29/2024 12:48:19 PM PST by CFW (I will not comply!)
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To: Impala64ssa

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


5 posted on 01/29/2024 12:48:33 PM PST by forYourChildrenVote4Bush
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To: Impala64ssa
The criminal Littlejohn is quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying: "I also understand that my actions, despite being driven by a desire for transparency, were illegal and have caused significant harm."

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.

6 posted on 01/29/2024 12:51:22 PM PST by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: CFW
"Yeah, now he is sorry."

He's sorry he got caught.

7 posted on 01/29/2024 12:51:49 PM PST by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: Impala64ssa

I love when democrats martyr themselves. Especially when their dastardly actions backfire on them.


8 posted on 01/29/2024 12:53:09 PM PST by Wpin ("I Have Sworn Upon the Altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny...")
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To: Impala64ssa

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.


9 posted on 01/29/2024 12:57:55 PM PST by PGR88
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To: Impala64ssa

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


10 posted on 01/29/2024 12:59:03 PM PST by j.havenfarm (23 years on Free Republic, 12/22/23! More than 8,000 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: Impala64ssa

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


11 posted on 01/29/2024 12:59:03 PM PST by j.havenfarm (23 years on Free Republic, 12/22/23! More than 8,000 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: j.havenfarm

Sorry for the double tap, and here’s the article

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna134228


12 posted on 01/29/2024 12:59:40 PM PST by j.havenfarm (23 years on Free Republic, 12/22/23! More than 8,000 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: j.havenfarm

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.


13 posted on 01/29/2024 1:06:35 PM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: Impala64ssa

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.


14 posted on 01/29/2024 1:12:03 PM PST by DoughtyOne (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the USofA & to the Constitutional REPUBLIC for which it stands.)
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To: Impala64ssa

Closing the barn door after the only horse they wanted released.


15 posted on 01/29/2024 1:13:59 PM PST by Raycpa
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To: V_TWIN

He was probably radicalized and egged on by social media algorithms created by the same people who are prosecuting him.


16 posted on 01/29/2024 1:21:03 PM PST by Track9 (Matches for sale.. get your matches!)
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To: Raycpa

Yes indeed.


17 posted on 01/29/2024 1:29:33 PM PST by Right Wing Vegan (The one most called "dangerous" by minions of the pot normalization conspiracy)
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To: V_TWIN

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.


18 posted on 01/29/2024 1:35:30 PM PST by Vaduz
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To: Impala64ssa

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.


19 posted on 01/29/2024 1:37:20 PM PST by Shady (The Force of Liberty must prevail for the sake of our Children and Grandchildren...)
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To: j.havenfarm

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.


20 posted on 01/29/2024 1:42:46 PM PST by Roadrunner383 (m)
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