Man Who Stole and Leaked Trump’s Tax Records Sentenced to 5 Years, US

The man responsible for stealing and leaking former President Donald Trump’s tax records, Charles Littlejohn, has been sentenced to five years in prison. Littlejohn, 38, pleaded guilty to unauthorized disclosures of income tax returns after stealing Trump’s tax returns and the tax data of thousands of wealthy individuals while working for a consulting firm with contracts with the Internal Revenue Service. He leaked the information to two news outlets and deleted the documents from his IRS-assigned laptop before covering his digital tracks. The judge, Ana Reyes, emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating that it was an attack on the US and its legal foundation. She compared Littlejohn’s actions to the January 6 Capitol attack, noting that they posed a threat to democracy. Prosecutors revealed that Littlejohn went to great lengths to steal the tax records undetected, exploiting system loopholes and using private websites and devices to store and distribute the information. The judge criticized the Justice Department for only bringing one count against Littlejohn, stating that it did not sufficiently reflect the magnitude of his crimes. Prosecutors argued that the one count covers multiple thefts and leaks. Littlejohn, in court, claimed that he acted out of a misguided belief that the public had the right to the tax information for informed decision-making. He acknowledged the potential consequences of his actions and admitted that they undermined public faith in government institutions. The court’s decision to sentence him to five years in prison aligns with the prosecutor’s recommendation.