Charles Edward Littlejohn, 38, from Washington, D.C., allegedly provided data between 2018 and 2020 to The New York Times and ProPublica in leaks that prosecutors have described as "unparalleled in the IRS's history."
Donald Trump speaking at CPAC 2011 in Washington, D.C.
According to an article published by The Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes imposed the maximum sentence for Littlejohn on Monday, saying the crime targeted the nation's system of government and its democracy.
"When you target the sitting president of the United States, you target the office," she said. "It can not be open season on our elected officials."
Defense attorney Lisa Manning sought a reduced sentence consistent with standard guidelines for individuals with no criminal record. Nevertheless, Reyes pushed back, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the crime and insisting that the imposed sentence must "deter others who might feel an obligation to break the law."
Littlejohn issued an apology, acknowledging sole responsibility. He stated, "I acted out of a sincere, if misguided, belief I was serving the public interest. My actions undermined the fragile trust we place in government."
Forbes revealed Littlejohn faced a charge of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information last October after he admitted to leaking former president Trump's information to The New York Times and the details of other wealthy Americans to ProPublica.
Forbes noted from an indictment last September that Littlejohn worked at a consulting firm not named in the filing. The firm primarily dealt with contracts it obtains from the IRS.
What Did Littlejohn Do?
Littlejohn stole the information from the IRS while working on a contract that included "returns and return information dating back more than 15 years," according to the indictment.
CNN reported Judge Ana Reyes also highlighted the gravity of the crime, saying multiple times that it amounted to an attack against the US and its legal foundation.
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.
Littlejohn has until April 30 to turn himself in.
