IRS contractor charged with stealing and leaking tax returns of wealthy Americans

An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) contractor has been charged with stealing the tax returns of former President Donald Trump and thousands of other wealthy Americans and leaking them to news organizations, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal1. Charles Edward Littlejohn, 38, of Washington, D.C., is accused of stealing the tax return information and giving it to two different news organizations2. The charges solve a two-year puzzle and a security breach that had drawn outrage from lawmakers and Biden administration officials1.

Littlejohn worked for the IRS as a contractor and had access to sensitive tax information3. He allegedly stole the tax returns of wealthy Americans and leaked them to news organizations, including the Associated Press4. The charges against Littlejohn were filed by the Justice Department, which accused him of disclosing tax return information without authorization3.

The theft of tax returns is a serious crime that can result in significant fines and jail time1. The charges against Littlejohn highlight the importance of protecting sensitive financial information and the need for strong cybersecurity measures1. The incident also raises concerns about the security of taxpayer information and the potential for future breaches1.

Key facts:

• An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) contractor has been charged with stealing the tax returns of former President Donald Trump and thousands of other wealthy Americans and leaking them to news organizations, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal1.
• Charles Edward Littlejohn, 38, of Washington, D.C., is accused of stealing the tax return information and giving it to two different news organizations2.
• The charges solve a two-year puzzle and a security breach that had drawn outrage from lawmakers and Biden administration officials1.
• Littlejohn worked for the IRS as a contractor and had access to sensitive tax information3.
• The charges against Littlejohn were filed by the Justice Department, which accused him of disclosing tax return information without authorization3.