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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.

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[-] De_Narm@lemmy.world 251 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

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.

[-] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 72 points 5 months ago

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.

[-] uis@lemm.ee 19 points 5 months ago

Wait. Is the only charge "stealing" tax records of president? In sane countries not publishing president's tax and income records is crime. Even in not so sane Russia. Even for only candidates.

[-] TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee 139 points 5 months ago

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.

[-] Serinus@lemmy.world 33 points 5 months ago

Forbes guesses. The rich certainly don't like advertising the exact details.

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[-] NounsAndWords@lemmy.world 110 points 5 months ago

Does he get extra prison for further exposing the unfairness of the system by being imprisoned for this bullshit?

[-] errer@lemmy.world 23 points 5 months ago

“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

[-] paddirn@lemmy.world 106 points 5 months ago

Littlejohn took from the rich and gave to the poor.

[-] owenfromcanada@lemmy.world 17 points 5 months ago

c/NomitiveDeterminism

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[-] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 89 points 5 months ago

Sounds like we know who Judge Ana Reyes works for, and it ain't us.

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[-] circuitfarmer 89 points 5 months ago

“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.

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[-] some_guy 84 points 5 months ago

“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.

[-] uis@lemm.ee 26 points 5 months ago

Snowden award material. If Snowden award existed.

[-] yumpsuit@lemmy.world 73 points 5 months ago

There is a Gofundme for Charles Littlejohn’s legal defense fund and commissary. Its older updates also have his address at the penitentiary.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/charles-littlejohns-legal-defense-fund

May he never run short of honeybuns, ramen, and mackerel.

[-] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 23 points 5 months ago

I'm torn... I want to donate, yet I feel like I'll get "randomly" audited if I do..

[-] InternetUser2012@midwest.social 62 points 5 months ago

He gets more time than most of the domestic terrorists that took part in an insurrection... That's disgusting.

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[-] psycho_driver@lemmy.world 54 points 5 months ago

Meanwhile the biggest tax cheat runs for president in hopes of tearing down our democracy.

[-] dodgy_bagel@lemmy.blahaj.zone 52 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

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.

[-] ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 44 points 5 months ago

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.

[-] Cosmicomical@lemmy.world 47 points 5 months ago

This is just class warfare

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[-] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 44 points 5 months ago

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.

[-] Liz@midwest.social 43 points 5 months ago

Honestly tax returns should just be public information anyway.

[-] MonkderDritte@feddit.de 39 points 5 months ago

pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized disclosures of income tax returns

= 5 years prison.

Land of the free.

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[-] SpiceDealer@lemmy.world 37 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

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.

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[-] AutistoMephisto@lemmy.world 36 points 5 months ago

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

[-] thejoker954@lemmy.world 35 points 5 months ago

Man that judge sounds shady as fuck.

[-] PixellatedDave@lemmy.world 34 points 5 months ago

So calling out inequality is anti American. Gotcha.

[-] thefrankring@lemmy.world 33 points 5 months ago

Bro did something illegal to expose the illegal criminals.

Bro took a bullet for us all.

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[-] raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world 33 points 5 months ago

fuck that judge.

[-] madcaesar@lemmy.world 27 points 5 months ago

Ah yes, this was an attack on democracy yet orange man is running around free after literarily trying to overthrow the government.

Get fucked judge.

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 15 points 5 months ago

It appears the feds didn't need a full four years to build a case against this guy, either. Crazy how quick and efficient our justice system can be when its aimed at a non-billionaire.

[-] HawlSera@lemm.ee 26 points 5 months ago

The legal system serves only to protect the wealthy

[-] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 23 points 5 months ago

Ty, Littlejohn for trying to expose the shit!

[-] PriorityMotif@lemmy.world 23 points 5 months ago

I think she's taking the piss so that he can appeal.

Ana C. Reyes Notable cases:

In 2008, on behalf of the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, Reyes filed a brief in support of three Guinean women seeking asylum in the U.S.

In 2018, Reyes was part of the legal team challenging the Trump administration's restrictions on refugees entering the United States through ports of entry.

In 2021, Reyes represented Spain in a dispute over the withdrawal of economic incentives for renewable projects.

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[-] Aux@lemmy.world 21 points 5 months ago

Don't you guys have some freedom of information law like in other civilised countries to request such information legally without stealing? If I wanted to know the taxes of Rishi Sunak I could just send a formal letter to the government and they would give me everything. Well, they probably won't give much on Rishi while he is in office as it might be a national security risk (that's the reason the government denied releasing Sunak's helicopter flight information and I agree with that), but once he leaves that should be available.

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[-] Prandom_returns@lemm.ee 20 points 5 months ago
[-] lugal@lemmy.world 17 points 5 months ago

"Crime of the Ultra Wealthy" is an oxymoron because they write the laws

[-] Sanctus@lemmy.world 14 points 5 months ago

Can we demand a fair system now? Can we demand the rich pay their fair share now? This isn't the first or the last curtain lifting. It definitely won't be if we just post it and then let that energy die. We as individuals need to get involved somehow and we need direction for this to change. Don't expect the circlejerk to end just because more of us have seen it.

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[-] qyron@sopuli.xyz 14 points 5 months ago

And this is why you make it mandatory for politians and people in political positions to surrender their tax returns for public scrutiny.

[-] alekwithak@lemmy.world 13 points 5 months ago

Charles LittleJohn makes me feel safe and proud. It's our current credit system that " strips individuals of the legal protection of their most sensitive data" No one agreed to give Equifax the data they leaked to the world.

[-] Rascabin@lemmy.ml 13 points 5 months ago
[-] cannedtuna@lemmy.world 18 points 5 months ago

No, modern day Little John

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[-] apocalypticat@lemmy.world 13 points 5 months ago

Littlejohn is a hero of the people, and if he does unfortunately end up in prison over this, I expect he'd become a legend in there as well.

[-] mhague@lemmy.world 12 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

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.

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this post was submitted on 28 May 2024
1179 points (99.1% liked)

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