Staff Reports
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, a conservative Republican, is calling for a harsh sentence for a left-wing IRS consultant who leaked former President Donald Trump’s tax returns and the private information of thousands of other citizens. Smith believes that a lenient sentence would only encourage similar crimes in the future. The consultant, Charles Edward Littlejohn, pleaded guilty to one count of illegally stealing tax return information and disclosing it to the media between 2018 and 2020 while working for the IRS.
Republicans Demand 'Maximum Penalty' for Anti-Trumper Who Infiltrated IRS https://t.co/JRgNV9dsa2 #BreakingNews #Breaking #News pic.twitter.com/G9quInnjhi
— Patriot Pointman 🇺🇸 (@PatriotPointman) January 25, 2024
In a statement to Breitbart, Smith expressed his hope that the court will impose a strong sentence as a deterrent for future IRS leakers. Littlejohn is accused of executing a plan over many years to access the private information of Americans in order to further his own political agenda. Smith and his fellow Republicans are urging Judge Ana Reyes to impose the maximum penalty of five years in jail for Littlejohn’s crimes.
The Republicans are also critical of the Justice Department, arguing that Littlejohn should have been charged with multiple counts of illegal disclosure, not just one count. Littlejohn himself has argued for leniency, claiming that he leaked the information out of a sense of duty to the American people. However, Republicans view his actions as an abuse of his position and a breach of trust, with a disregard for the rule of law.
The sentencing for Littlejohn is scheduled for Monday, and Smith and the Republicans are hopeful that the judge will consider the seriousness of the crimes and impose the maximum sentence. This case is seen as emblematic of the extreme actions that some individuals take due to their hatred for former President Trump. The Republicans are determined to hold Littlejohn accountable for his actions and prevent future leaks of private information.
