Tax experts say IRS whistleblower Charles Littlejohn’s leaks provided a public service — and fear Trump will take retribution.
By Matt Sledge, The Intercept
Earlier this month, a group of professors from the normally stodgy world of tax law wrote to President Joe Biden calling on him to free the IRS contractor who leaked the tax returns of Donald Trump and thousands of millionaires and billionaires.
Charles Littlejohn’s five-year sentence was six times the recommended maximum, the professors said, despite the fact that Littlejohn’s disclosures helped shed light on a broken tax system that allows Warren Buffett to pay a lower tax rate than his secretary.
With Biden winding down his time in office, Littlejohn’s advocates, including tax code reformers from the groups Revolving Door Project and Patriotic Millionaires, are worried for the incarcerated IRS consultant. They’re calling on Biden to commute Littlejohn’s sentence before it is too late and he is forced to spend Trump’s second term in prison at risk of retribution.
“Trump has already promised to pardon January 6 insurrectionists who are convicted,” said Kenny Stancil, a senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project. “It would be a perversion of justice if they walk free while Littlejohn spends over four more years in prison.”
Stancil’s Revolving Door Project, Patriotic Millionaires, and the group of tax professors led by Reuven Avi-Yonah of the University of Michigan — who has called Littlejohn a “public hero”— are leading the charge for clemency.
The groups have not called on Biden to pardon Littlejohn, noting that he pleaded guilty, but they did emphasize the civic-minded purpose behind his leaks.
Recent Posts
Military Service Is The Strongest Predictor Of Extremist Violence
Take Action NowThe mass murder in New Orleans and Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas fit a troubling pattern among U.S. vets, research says.……
The Death Of Net Neutrality Is A Bad Omen
Take Action NowWhile Americans might not mourn the loss of net neutrality, an appeals court’s ruling sets a troubling precedent for consumer…
Genocidal President, Genocidal Politics
Take Action NowIn the lame duck, President Biden is doubling down on his indefensible support of Israel’s genocide.By…
Biden Discussed Plans To Strike Iranian Nuclear Sites
Take Action NowA strike on Iran now would create massive turmoil ahead of the administration change.By Barak Ravid, Axios White…