(Cupventi.com) – A former IRS consultant is facing charges for allegedly disclosing tax returns of former President Trump to the New York Times during his time in office, according to federal prosecutors.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Charles Littlejohn residing in Washington D.C., is accused of providing tax information of “thousands of the nation’s wealthiest individuals” to media outlets.
The Justice Department’s complaint stated that he shared tax returns dating back over 15 years with news organizations between 2018 and 2020.
Littlejohn faces one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and could be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison if convicted.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is currently investigating the matter, while a guilty plea is reportedly being negotiated. Littlejohn, previously a contractor for the IRS, allegedly leaked the tax information to the New York Times while Trump was in office, resulting in multiple stories being published about Trump’s tax payments before he completed his term.
Trump had defended his tax history in 2020, emphasizing substantial payments made to the IRS and asserting his eligibility for tax credits like any other taxpayer.