In a significant development, federal prosecutors have charged Charles Edward Littlejohn, a 38-year-old former contractor with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), for allegedly disclosing the tax returns of former President Donald Trump to the media. The tax documents in question were reportedly handed over to The New York Times, which subsequently published multiple stories based on the information.
Littlejohn's association with the IRS spanned from 2018 to 2020. During this period, he is accused of not only stealing the tax returns of Trump but also obtaining tax information related to "thousands of the nation's wealthiest individuals." This extensive data, dating back over 15 years, was then allegedly provided to another news organization, identified as Pro Publica, a New York City-based nonprofit investigative journalism group.
While the court documents do not explicitly name Trump, sources familiar with the investigation have confirmed that the tax returns under scrutiny belonged to the former president. The charges against Littlejohn include one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information. If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the internal watchdog for the IRS, is currently investigating the case. There are indications that a guilty plea might be forthcoming from Littlejohn. The Department of Justice, however, has refrained from commenting on the ongoing case.
In September 2020, following the New York Times' report on his tax history, Trump defended his financial records. He asserted that he had paid "millions of dollars" to the IRS and argued that he was "entitled" to tax credits "like everyone else."
The disclosure of Trump's tax returns and the subsequent media coverage had stirred significant controversy, with debates over the ethical implications of such leaks and discussions about the tax practices of high-profile individuals.
