{"id":2050582,"date":"2023-09-30T08:50:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T12:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/irs-contractor-charged-for-leaking-tax-returns-of-trump-thousands-of-wealth-taxpayers\/"},"modified":"2023-09-30T08:54:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T12:54:03","slug":"irs-contractor-charged-for-leaking-tax-returns-of-trump-thousands-of-wealth-taxpayers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/irs-contractor-charged-for-leaking-tax-returns-of-trump-thousands-of-wealth-taxpayers\/","title":{"rendered":"IRS contractor charged with leaking Trump&#8217;s tax returns and thousands of wealthy taxpayers&#8217;."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Firs-contractor-charged-for-leaking-tax-returns-of-trump-thousands-of-wealth-taxpayers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2050582&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>An IRS \u200cConsultant \u2063Charged with Stealing and Leaking Tax Returns of Wealthy Americans, Including Former President Donald Trump<\/h2>\n<p>An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) consultant \u200dhas been charged\u200d for allegedly stealing and leaking the tax returns of thousands of wealthy Americans, including one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/irs-contractor-charged-for-leaking-tax-returns-of-trump-thousands-of-wealth-taxpayers\/\" title=\"IRS contractor charged with leaking Trump's tax returns and thousands of wealthy taxpayers'.\">unnamed high-ranking \u200bgovernment official believed<\/a> to be former President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2064 Department of Justice (DOJ) announced\u200d the\u2063 charges against Charles Littlejohn,\u200c a 38-year-old \u2064Washington resident, on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Littlejohn, who was employed as a government contractor at the IRS, stands accused of a multi-faceted scheme to steal and disseminate confidential tax return data between 2018\u200c and 2020. His\u200b actions allegedly involved not only a &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/you-are-our-champion-novak-djokovic-gets-heros-welcome-in-serbia\/\" title=\"'You Are Our Champion': Novak Djokovic Gets Hero\u2019s Welcome in Serbia\">high-ranking government official<\/a>,&#8221; cryptically known as &#8220;Public Official A,&#8221; but also thousands of the nation&#8217;s \u2064most affluent individuals.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/trump-responds-to-attempt-to-ban-him-from-denver-ballots-in-2024-post-5498089?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">Trump Responds to \u200dAttempt to Ban Him From Denver Ballots in 2024<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>9\/29\/2023<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/trump-co-defendant-scott-hall-pleads-guilty-in-georgia-rico-case-5501151?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">Trump Co-defendant Scott Hall Pleads Guilty\u2064 in Georgia RICO Case<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>9\/29\/2023<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The charges may, for the first time, link \u200cthe tax return \u2063information disclosures\u2062 of some of the nation&#8217;s richest men and President Trump by liberal organizations ProPublica and the New \u2063York Times.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile working at \u200cthe IRS as a government contractor, [Mr. Littlejohn] \u200b stole tax return \u200cinformation associated \u200cwith a high-ranking government official (Public Official A) and disclosed it to a \u2062news organization (News Organization 1),\u201d the DOJ said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLittlejohn\u2064 also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/irs-contractor-charged-with-single-criminal-count-for-leaking-trumps-tax-records-and-thousands-of-others\/\" title=\"IRS contractor charged with leaking Trump's tax records and numerous others.\">stole tax return information<\/a> for thousands of \u2063the nation\u2019s wealthiest\u200c individuals, and disclosed this tax return information to another \u200dnews organization (News Organization 2).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While President Trump&#8217;s\u200b name, the names\u200b of the wealthy taxpayers, and the two \u200cnews organizations aren&#8217;t disclosed in\u2063 the court documents, the events described match the timeframe \u200cof disclosures by ProPublica \u2063in 2021, and The New York Times in \u200b2020.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">In June 2021, ProPublica \u2064published the private and legally protected tax return information of billionaires such \u200das Elon Musk, Jeff\u2064 Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, Warren \u200dBuffett, Peter Thiel, and\u200c others. This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/irs-still-searching-for-leaker-of-billionaires-tax-returns-set-to-hire-87000-more-staff-4660745\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leak coincided<\/a> with \u2064President Biden&#8217;s \u2064proposed $1.8 trillion spending bill, which aimed to raise taxes on the \u2062wealthy.<\/div>\n<p>The previous fall, in\u200b September 2020, the New \u2062York Times reported that it had obtained the \u200b2016 and 2017 tax records of President Trump,\u200c who was in office\u2063 at the time.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, Biden administration officials \u2064informed Congress of an ongoing investigation \u200dinto the leak. Mr. Littlejohn&#8217;s\u200d charge now marks the first visible progress in this \u2062two-year-long, previously undisclosed inquiry.<\/p>\n<p>The extensive breaches disclosed by ProPublica took\u2064 IRS officials and lawmakers \u2062by surprise.\u2064 The \u200boutlet never named its \u200bsource, but the volume of the\u200b disclosures suggested origins within the IRS.\u200c This was now confirmed on Friday.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Former President Donald Trump speaks\u2062 at a campaign rally in Clinton Township, Mich., on Sept. \u206227, 2023. \u2062(Scott Olson\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;We have \u2063no comment on today\u2019s\u2063 announcement from the DOJ,&#8221; a ProPublica spokesperson said in\u200c a \u2062statement to The Epoch Times. &#8220;As we\u2019ve said previously, ProPublica doesn\u2019t know the identity of the source who \u2064provided\u2063 this trove \u200cof\u2062 information on the taxes paid by the wealthiest Americans.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>ProPublica has previously said that \u200cthe information\u200d the outlet \u2062received included more than &#8220;just tax \u2062returns.&#8221; It included &#8220;stock\u200c trades&#8221; and other &#8220;information that\u200d is sent to the IRS about financial activities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A New \u2063York Times\u2064 spokesperson declined to comment.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2064Epoch Times \u200bcontacted Mr. Littlejohn&#8217;s attorney, Lisa Manning, the IRS; and President Trump&#8217;s \u2063campaign for comment.<\/p>\n<p>In a \u2064statement to multiple outlets, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said, &#8220;Any disclosure of taxpayer\u2062 information is unacceptable.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The case sheds light on\u200d a far-reaching breach of privacy potentially involving a former president, disfavored by the legacy media establishment and the\u200d nation&#8217;s wealthiest individuals. It also raises critical questions about \u200bthe safeguards in place to protect the privacy of \u2063taxpayers and the \u2063potential consequences\u200b for those who breach that trust.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Littlejohn faces a \u200bsingle \u200ccount of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information. \u2063If convicted, the charge could result in\u2064 a maximum \u2062prison sentence of \u2064five \u200cyears. The \u200dcharge was filed as\u200b an &#8220;information,&#8221; typically used when the defendant is \u2064expected to plead \u2064guilty.<\/p>\n<p>He was unmasked by the\u200d Treasury \u200dInspector General for Tax\u200b Administration,\u200c a\u200c federal agency entrusted with investigating alleged wrongdoing within the IRS. However, how \u2062agency investigators identified \u2063Mr. Littlejohn \u2062is not disclosed \u200bin court documents, which\u2062 mention activities in northern West Virginia, where\u2064 the IRS has a major data center\u2064 in Martinsburg.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What\u200b are\u2064 the potential political motivations behind the\u200c theft and leaking \u200cof tax return information, and \u2062how can law\u2062 enforcement agencies investigate and address these concerns<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Nton Township, Mich., on April 28, 2018. (Scott Olson\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/09\/29\/44353313_10157038468486969_856908891885408000_n.jpg\" alt=\"Donald Trump\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" class=\"wp-image-5501337\" \/><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The theft and unauthorized disclosure of tax return information is a serious crime with significant implications for national security and individual privacy. Tax returns contain highly sensitive financial \u200dand personal information, and their unauthorized release \u2064poses a substantial risk of\u2064 identity theft \u200band other malicious activities.<\/p>\n<p>The charges against Mr. Littlejohn underscore \u2062the\u200d importance of safeguarding confidential\u200c taxpayer information and prosecuting those who engage in illegal\u200c activities involving \u2062the theft and dissemination of such information. \u2063It is \u2062imperative for government agencies, particularly those \u2062like the IRS that handle highly \u200csensitive taxpayer data, \u2064to maintain \u2063robust cybersecurity measures and\u200b stringent internal controls \u200cto prevent unauthorized access \u2064and disclosure.<\/p>\n<p>In response to \u2064these charges, IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig emphasized the agency&#8217;s\u2062 commitment to protecting taxpayer information and ensuring the integrity of the tax system. He stated, &#8220;Safeguarding taxpayer data is at the core of our mission at the IRS. We deeply value the \u200dtrust that \u200dtaxpayers place \u2063in us, and we will continue to work diligently \u200dto maintain that trust.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The case against Mr. Littlejohn also raises important concerns about the potential political motivations behind the theft and leaking of tax return information. The disclosure of tax returns for the \u2062purpose of\u2063 political gain or to target\u2062 political opponents undermines the privacy and fairness of the tax system. The IRS and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-governor-encourages-people-to-call-police-on-neighbors-violating-covid-orders\/\" title=\"Oregon Governor Encourages People To Call Police On Neighbors Violating COVID Orders\">law enforcement agencies<\/a> must \u200cthoroughly investigate these\u200d incidents to determine any potential links to partisan interests or external influences.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, this case highlights the need for stronger data protection measures and stricter \u2062penalties for those found guilty of unauthorized access,\u200c theft, and disclosure \u200bof sensitive information. As\u200b technology advances and data breaches become increasingly prevalent, it is crucial for governments to\u200c enhance their cybersecurity capabilities and \u2064enact stringent regulations to deter and punish cybercriminals.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the charges against the IRS consultant serve \u2064as a reminder of the ongoing threats to data\u2063 security and the importance of\u2064 continuous vigilance\u200b in safeguarding sensitive information. It is imperative for government agencies, the private sector, and individuals to remain \u200ddiligent in their efforts to protect confidential data from unauthorized access and exploitation.<\/p>\n<p>As the investigation proceeds, \u2064it is essential for justice\u2062 to be served, and for measures to be\u2063 implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future. The protection of taxpayer information is not only crucial for individual privacy and\u200b security but also for\u2064 upholding the integrity \u200dand fairness of the tax system as a whole.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by a private consulting firm contracted by the IRS, stands accused of unlawfully accessing and disclosing the tax records of numerous affluent individuals, including an unidentified prominent government figure suspected to be ex-President Donald Trump. The DOJ has officially pressed charges against Charles Littlejohn, a 38-year-old resident of Washington, employed by a private firm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":618,"featured_media":2050583,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2050582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2050582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/618"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2050582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2050582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2050583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2050582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2050582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2050582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}