Charles E. Littlejohn

Littlejohn was rehired as an IRS contractor in 2017.^[3] The first leak of IRS data targeted 15 years of Donald Trump's tax returns, which he shared with The New York Times (initially identified as "News Organization 1" in the criminal complaint)^[4] between around August and October 2019.^[5][6]

The story was released in a series of articles by The New York Times in September 2020. It revealed that Trump had paid only $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017, and in some years paid no federal income tax due to losing more money than he made.^[7] Reporting showed no known connections with Russia, as had been previously speculated, however indicated "potential and often direct conflict of interest" between Trump's businesses and the office of the President of the United States.^[3]

The second data leak targeted 15 years of tax records belonging to approximately 7,600 of the highest net worth individuals in the United States. He chose to share the data with ProPublica due to previous reporting in 2018 on the inequity of IRS scrutiny.^[3] The data was used for a June 2021 series that revealed that many among the wealthiest Americans pay little or no taxes.^[8][9] It was later revealed that he compromised the tax records of 405,000 individuals and businesses.^[10]

In October 2023, Littlejohn pleaded guilty to the unauthorized disclosures of income tax returns. Littlejohn said that he “acted out of a sincere, if misguided, belief” that he was serving the public interest and desired Americans to be informed. He also indicated that he acted with the expectation that he would face consequences.^[11]

Judge Ana C. Reyes compared his actions to the January 6 United States Capitol attack, saying that the leak represented "a threat to our democracy." Senator Rick Scott, whose data was leaked, said in testimony "every American is a victim here." In January 2024, Reyes sentenced Littlejohn to the maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.^[12] Reyes had earlier questioned Department of Justice attorneys as to why Littlejohn was offered a plea deal for only a single felony count, despite leaking the information of thousands of taxpayers.^[13]

Tax attorney Reuven Avi-Yonah called the sentence "harsh," particularly compared to often lower penalties for tax evasion. He recommended that the sentence be reduced to the standard ten months, or commuted by Joe Biden.^[14] The Revolving Door Project and Patriotic Millionaires joined the call for presidential pardon. Bob Lord published commentary in Rolling Stone on the case, noting that the sentence exceeded the penalties from a Department of Homeland Security data breach and argued that members of congress influenced Reyes's ruling.^[15][16]

Littlejohn is currently assigned to the Federal Correctional Institution, Marion with a release date of October 22, 2027.^[17]

Billionaires Kelcy Warren and Kenneth C. Griffin filed lawsuits over disclosures of their tax information against Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. (Littlejohn's former employer), in Warren's case, and the IRS and the Treasury Department, in Griffin's.^[18]

On January 29, 2026, Donald Trump filed a lawsuit as a private citizen against the IRS and the Treasury Department over the leak of his taxes, seeking $10 billion in damages.^[19] In turn, the Department of Treasury cancelled all contracts with Booz Allen despite the company's support in prosecuting Littlejohn.^[9]