Bezos, Musk, Buffett Entwined In Unforeseen Twist In Trump's Tax Leak Probe

The investigation into the leak of former President Donald Trump’s tax returns was only resolved when investigators stumbled upon a suspect in an entirely different case. The suspect, a former IRS contractor, Charles Littlejohn, is set to be sentenced on Monday.

What Happened: The leak of Trump’s tax returns, which was a significant breach of privacy, was a mystery to investigators for a long time. The Wall Street Journal reported that they only discovered the source of the Trump leak when they were investigating a separate IRS breach.

The breakthrough came after ProPublica published a series of articles in June 2021, revealing how several American billionaires, including Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Warren Buffett, paid minimal income tax relative to their vast wealth. This led investigators to realize that the extensive data could only have come from an IRS leak.

See Also: As Biden Vs. Trump Matchup Shifts In Favor Of This Candidate, New Poll Data Shows What The President Should Do To Boost His Re-election Chances

Despite initial challenges, the investigators eventually identified the source of the billionaire tax information, leading them to the individual responsible for the Trump tax return leak. The prime suspect, Littlejohn, was identified and later admitted to sharing both data sets.

Littlejohn admitted to leaking Trump’s tax information to The New York Times. This revelation allowed the government to include the Trump tax return leak in their case against Littlejohn.

Trump’s tax returns had been a matter of great interest, especially since he had refused to release them, breaking a long-standing tradition. The investigation into the Trump tax return leak was politically charged, with strong opinions from both sides.

See Also: As Biden Vs. Trump Matchup Shifts In Favor Of This Candidate, New Poll Data Shows What The President Should Do To Boost His Re-election Chances

Littlejohn’s sentencing is set for Monday, with prosecutors recommending a five-year prison term. His lawyer, Lisa Manning, has argued that this sentence would be “extreme” and unjustified.

Why It Matters: The leak of Trump’s tax information is a significant event in the ongoing legal challenges the former president faces. Trump’s financial situation has been under scrutiny, with allegations of tax evasion and a suspicious $48 million debt coming to light. These revelations could substantially impact Trump’s financial standing, especially with the possibility of facing damage awards exceeding $450 million within a week.

Read Next: Donald Trump’s Suspicious $48 Million Debt Raises Eyebrows, Looks Awfully Like ‘Tax Evasion,’ Says Report

Image via Shutterstock