This summary was submitted to the subreddit:
From the CNN article -
The man who stole and leaked former President Donald Trump and thousands of others’ tax records has been sentenced to five years in prison.
In October, Charles Littlejohn, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized disclosures of income tax returns. According to his plea agreement, he stole Trump’s tax returns along with the tax data of “thousands of the nation’s wealthiest people,” while working for a consulting firm with contracts with the Internal Revenue Service.
Littlejohn leaked the information to two news outlets and deleted the documents from his IRS-assigned laptop before returning it and covered the rest of his digital tracks by deleting places where he initially stored the information.
Judge Ana Reyes highlighted the gravity of the crime, saying multiple times that it amounted to an attack against the US and its legal foundation.
“What you did in attacking the sitting president of the United States was an attack on our constitutional democracy,” Reyes said. “We’re talking about someone who … pulled off the biggest heist in IRS history.”
The judge compared Littlejohn’s actions to those of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, noting that, “your actions were also a threat to our democracy.”
“It engenders the same fear that January 6 does,” Reyes added.
Prosecutors said Littlejohn went through great lengths to steal the tax records undetected, exploiting system loopholes, downloading data to an Apple iPod and uploading the information on a private website he later deleted.
Reyes was also critical of the Justice Department’s decision to only bring one count against Littlejohn.
“The fact that he did what he did and he’s facing one felony count, I have no words for,” the judge said. Prosecutors argued that the one count covers the multitude of Littlejohn’s thefts and leaks.
“A free press and public engagement with the media are critical to any healthy democracy, but stealing and leaking private, personal tax information strips individuals of the legal protection of their most sensitive data,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing recommending Littlejohn be sentenced to the maximum of five years in prison.
“I acted out of a sincere misguided belief,” Littlejohn said in court Monday, adding that he was serving the country and that people had a right to the tax information.
“We as a country make the best decisions when we are all properly informed,” Littlejohn said.
Littlejohn added that he was “aware of the potential consequences” of his actions and knew he would one day be here, in federal court, facing those consequences.
“My actions undermine the fragile faith,” in government institutions in the US, Littlejohn said.
If revealing the tax records of a president is equally as much a threat to your democracy as an armed mob storming the capitol, your democracy sucks. Well, either that or the judge is outrageously biased and should be fired immediately. Maybe both.
I mean, Donald Trump literally sold the Resolute Desk for ad space to Goya, and that hasn’t stopped his reelection bid any more than his recorded participation in treason.
I’m not sure our so-called democracy is accomplishing much.
Many people will never buy that product again.
That judge is acting as if he stole the god damned constitution or something. He didn’t take anything of value, gain any kind of monetary reward, and didn’t do any damage to those he “stole” from.
This is all information we collectively pay for and should be public. If this is somehow damaging our democracy, to the extent that it’s equivalent to attempting to overthrow Congress… Fucking forbes should be in gitmo for their “richest people” articles.
The simple fact that they advertise their wealth, while simultaneously screaming treason about their tax records being released tells you all you really need to know about the American tax system. In a fair system we should be able to work out exactly how much tax everyone pays by their net worth, instead someone’s going to jail for lifting a corner of the veil that these rich fucks hide behind.
You misunderstand: It is not threatening democracy, it is threatening what is called democracy in the US of A. Like nothing that is called AI is really AI.
Forbes guesses. The rich certainly don’t like advertising the exact details.
Does he get extra prison for further exposing the unfairness of the system by being imprisoned for this bullshit?
“You being in prison reminds me of the Jan 6 attackers being in prison, so I’ve added a few more years to your sentence.” -This dumb judge’s logic
Littlejohn took from the rich and gave to the poor.
c/NomitiveDeterminism
He gets more time than most of the domestic terrorists that took part in an insurrection… That’s disgusting.
The rich have never been particularly concerned about fascism. They are however, deeply concerned about people knowing their financial details.
“Today’s sentence sends a strong message that those who violate laws intended to protect sensitive tax information will face significant punishment.”
He revealed flaws in the system. He must be punished, lest the plebs find out how badly we’re fucking them.
Snowden award material. If Snowden award existed.
“We’re talking about someone who … pulled off the biggest heist in IRS history.”
I’d prefer we started talking about the super rich in this context. Plenty of bigger heists than this guy, in my view.
Judge Ana Reyes highlighted the gravity of the crime, saying multiple times that it amounted to an attack against the US and its legal foundation.
Yes because the ultra wealthy have NEVER commited a crime against the American people. We salute Mr. Littlejohn for your heroism. Today, you are called a terrorist but tomorrow you will remember for your service to the American public and the world at large. May you live a long life and prosper by any means necessary.
And Judge Ana Reyes was pissed that 5 years was the maximum sentence permitted under law. But, when you consider that now he’s a felon, that record will be stuck with him long after he is released from prison. But that’s why his appeal is so important. Because if his conviction is overturned, then he doesn’t have a felon record
On the one hand, you have a violent insurrection, some of whom had the intent to assassinate multiple government leaders. On the other hand, a guy uploaded some dude’s tax returns.
Look up the case of Daniel Baker.
Tweeted that we should defend our country from insurrection on Jan 6. Got nearly 4 years and sentenced by May. Military vet.
The system moves fast and harshly when it needs or wants to.
Meanwhile the biggest tax cheat runs for president in hopes of tearing down our democracy.
This is just class warfare
Judge Ana Reyes needs to have her tax forms routinely shown to the public. If she believes a tax form should hold a secret, that means a secret line of finances and she believes in different rules for different types of people.
So calling out inequality is anti American. Gotcha.
That Reyes character has a weird, prudish idea about taxes. Actually, when someone compares inane things to Jan 6 I just assume they’re a partisan hack. Maybe unwittingly, but still a hack.
