A former Internal Revenue Service contractor, who leaked tax information about Donald Trump and other wealthy individuals to news organizations, got his job to intentionally to spread the confidential records, according to Justice Department prosecutors.

Charles Edward Littlejohn, 38, of Washington, pleaded guilty in October to unauthorized disclosure of tax return and return information. U.S. District Judge Ana Reye scheduled sentencing for Jan. 29. Prosecutors recommended Tuesday he receive the maximum sentence of five years in prison.

“After applying to work as an IRS consultant with the intention of accessing and disclosing tax returns, Defendant weaponized his access to unmasked taxpayer data to further his own personal, political agenda, believing that he was above the law,” wrote prosecutors Corey Amundson, chief of the Justice Department’s public integrity section, Jennifer Clarke and Jonathan Jacobson.

284 points

It sounds like Charles Edward Littlejohn is a fucking badass and overall rad dude worth celebrating. Additionally, if he gets the maximum sentence of 5 years, that will be drastically longer than many of the January 6th rioters. I can’t change the outcome for him, but I do wish him luck.

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81 points

He needs to be pardoned or at least have his sentence commuted. But I highly doubt that Biden would do it.

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76 points

A precedent where your followers break the law in your name can be a dangerous war of escalation between opponents.

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89 points

Trump already set that precedent when he pardoned Roger Stone.

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15 points

“your followers”

More like “those who hate the other guy”

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1 point
*

Biden wouldn’t want to risk setting a precedent where his sides shortcomings might be also exposed.

It is in this way that the ruling class is bipartisan in upholding its privileges.

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4 points

That seems like a rational take and I agree with you. Curious why the down votes? Because you’re alluding to Biden having shortcomings at all? Or because it’s perceived as a both sides are the same argument?

It’s hard to accept we’re living in such a tribal world. There’s no more nuance or middle ground in the majority it seems.

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3 points
*

You heard it here folks, avoiding the appearance of impropriety is the most partisan thing you can do

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250 points

It doesn’t sound to me like he thought he was above the law. He seemed to know the consequences. He just didn’t think that Trump should be above the law. Or, at the very least, above presidential decorum.

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10 points

Yet the orange buffoon still walks the streets and continues raising hatred.

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-18 points

“raising hatred” … How did he hurt you and would like to talk about it?

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10 points

Sir, you must be confused, this isn’t reddit. Take your trolling bullshit and go back there, thanks.

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142 points

American hero

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139 points

He knew he wasn’t above the law, he just believed the consequences were worth it. I hope he’s right.

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55 points

Yup. Dude took one for the team.

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130 points

He held the records up to the light knowing he would be burned by it. Truly the definition of a hero.

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