Ex-IRS Contractor Admits to Unauthorized Disclosure of Tax Return Data of Trump and High-Net-Worth Individuals

A former contractor for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has admitted to leaking tax information about former President Donald Trump and numerous high-net-worth individuals. Charles Edward Littlejohn, 38, of Washington, D.C. pleaded guilty to the charge of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information.

The Justice Department charged Littlejohn with stealing tax return information and providing it to two news outlets between 2018 and 2020. While the outlets were not named in the charges, the timeframe aligns with stories published by The New York Times regarding Trump’s tax returns and ProPublica’s reporting on wealthy Americans’ taxes.

The 2020 New York Times report revealed that Trump paid only $750 in federal income tax in the year he entered the White House and no income tax in some years due to significant losses. ProPublica’s investigation in 2021 uncovered tax-return data that indicated the wealthiest Americans pay a smaller share of their income in taxes compared to ordinary workers.

Both publications have refrained from commenting on the charges, and ProPublica reporters have claimed they do not know the identity of the source. These stories prompted calls for tax reform for the wealthy and investigations into the unauthorized disclosure of tax information, which is legally protected.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes expressed deep concern over Littlejohn’s actions, stating that when individuals take the law into their own hands, society does not function properly. Littlejohn’s sentencing is scheduled for January 29th, and he may face up to five years in prison.

The IRS has reiterated that any disclosure of taxpayer information is unacceptable and has implemented enhanced security measures to prevent future breaches.