(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Patriot of the Year: Charles Littlejohn [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-10-17 On September 29, an employee of an IRS contractor was charged with disclosing tax return information without authorization. Already by October 12, said individual, Charles Littlejohn, 38, of Washington, D.C., has pled guilty to one count. Perhaps some background negotiations were ongoing before this quick turnaround over three years after Littlejohn obtained tax return information associated with Trump and disclosed it to Pro Publica. Littlejohn also accessed tax return information for thousands of the nation’s wealthiest individuals, and disclosed this tax return information to another news organization. I recall learning Bezos had claimed the earned income credit and receive refunds! Charged with one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information, Littlejohn faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on January 29, 2024. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Trevor Nelson of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) made the announcement. TIGTA were investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Lauren Castaldi and Jonathan E. Jacobson of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney for the Northern District of West Virginia. “By using his role as a government contractor to gain access to private tax information, steal that information, and disclose it publicly, Charles Littlejohn broke federal law and betrayed the public’s trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In every case, the Department of Justice is committed to following the facts wherever they lead and holding accountable those who violate our laws.” If only. “The unauthorized theft and disclosure of tax return information by government employees or contractors is a serious breach of the public’s trust,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department will hold accountable those who illegally exploit their access to sensitive personal information.” Exploit? It seems to me he has Performed a public service without even the nominal protections available to a whistleblowing employee. “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is dedicated to conducting comprehensive investigations of criminal activity that impacts federal tax administration. The American people have every right to expect the utmost integrity from those who are granted access to sensitive taxpayer information through their employment with the IRS. TIGTA stands ready to investigate, pursue, and bring to justice any individuals, whether they be employees, contractors, or unaffiliated outside parties who abuse IRS’s systems, steal taxpayer information, and/or illegally disclose taxpayer information,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Trevor Nelson of TIGTA. “TIGTA is committed to investigating and bringing to justice those individuals who illegally disclose taxpayer information. I want to thank TIGTA special agents, the Department of Justice Public Integrity Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s offices for their hard work in their commitment to this goal.” According to court documents, Littlejohn, accessed tax returns associated with former President Trump – and related individuals and entities – on an IRS database after using broad search parameters designed to conceal the true purpose of his queries. He then evaded IRS protocols established to detect and prevent large downloads or uploads from IRS devices or systems. Littlejohn then saved the tax returns to multiple personal storage devices, including an iPod, before contacting News Organization 1. Between around August 2019 and October 2019, Littlejohn provided News Organization 1 with the tax return information associated with Public Official A. Littlejohn then stole additional tax return information related to Public Official A and provided it to News Organization 1. In September 2020, News Organization 1 published a series of articles about Public Official A’s tax returns. In July and August 2020, Littlejohn separately stole tax return information for thousands of the nation’s wealthiest individuals. Littlejohn was again able to evade IRS detection. In November 2020, Littlejohn disclosed this tax return information to News Organization 2, which published over 50 articles using the stolen data. Littlejohn then obstructed the forthcoming investigation into his conduct by deleting and destroying evidence of his actions. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. TIGTA investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Lauren Castaldi and Jonathan E. Jacobson of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney for the Northern District of West Virginia. As quoted by WaPo reader theghostoflennybruce in an unusually perspicacious comment: “The news organizations published blockbuster reports based on the trove of data, showing how Trump and the wealthiest Americans employed financial strategies to slash their federal tax bills, in some cases down to zero. [or less than zero]. “Illegal disclosures such as Littlejohn’s could imperil the government’s ability to collect taxes, if individuals can’t trust their financials will be kept confidential, the judge said.” He then continued: “Apparently the tax returns leaked indicated that the federal government wasn't collecting any taxes from the individuals concerned. Yet [Judge] Reyes makes the above statement as if completely ignorant of what the tax returns revealed. If the wealthiest Americans won't be held accountable by the federal government to ensure that they pay their fair share in taxes, since the income they make ensures that a substantial portion of the American public will live in poverty, or from paycheck to paycheck, then the only recourse left available to Americans, not among the nation's wealthiest, for the wealthy to be held accountable is for their financial information to be made completely public. “Without transparency, the vast majority of Americans are hamstrung by what they do not know. Without accountability, the powerful are inviting anarchy. If we are to maintain our constitutional democratic republic, transparency and accountability are of paramount importance. Judge Reyes would do well to take this into consideration when sentencing Littlejohn, who in actuality is a true patriot.” Trump’s attorney Alina Hubba thought to mix in and complain to the judge that this unauthorized disclosure might have cost trump thousands of votes. If so, yet another reason Littlejohn should win an award for being the Patriot Hero of the Year. She also urged the judge to investigate whether Littlejohn acted alone or as part of a vast conspiracy. Surely time would be better spent investigating other conspiracies of which Habba is now doubtless aware. 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