The man who stole and leaked former President Donald Trump and thousands of other’s tax records has been sentenced to five years in prison.

In October, Charles Littlejohn, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized disclosures of income tax returns. According to his plea agreement, he stole Trump’s tax returns along with the tax data of “thousands of the nation’s wealthiest people,” while working for a consulting firm with contracts with the Internal Revenue Service.

Littlejohn leaked the information to two news outlets and deleted the documents from his IRS-assigned laptop before returning it and covered the rest of his digital tracks by deleting places where he initially stored the information.

Judge Ana Reyes highlighted the gravity of the crime, saying multiple times that it amounted to an attack against the US and its legal foundation.

  • Flying Squid
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    40411 months ago

    That’s a longer sentence than many of the January 6th traitors.

    • @LEDZeppelin
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      19711 months ago

      This. Jan 6 traitors are getting slap on their wrists and pat on their backs

      • Snot Flickerman
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        11 months ago

        All Cops are Bastards, All Judges are Bastards, All Prosecutors are Bastards.

        The entire fucking “justice” system is tilted towards forgiving and enabling right-wing violence while labeling left-wing protest as “terrorism” that justifies lethal force.

        • Deceptichum
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          6411 months ago

          I always call it a legal system, because theres sure as hell no justice in it.

          • magnetosphere
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            2011 months ago

            Ooh, that’s good. I’ll update my vocabulary, the way I did when I started referring to people as “pro birth”, because they certainly don’t deserve to be called “pro life”.

        • @[email protected]
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          211 months ago

          The entire system is tilted and reforms are needed.

          Do you anticipate broad generalizations to overlook individual nuances & undermine constructive discussion?

          Or is it important to cast blame upon each and every member of a broken system, regardless of whether they may personally be activists for our cause?

        • BlanketsWithSmallpox
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          11 months ago

          Snot Flickerman

          All Cops are Bastards, All Judges are Bastards, All Prosecutors are Bastards.

          The entire fucking “justice” system is tilted towards forgiving and enabling right-wing violence while labeling left-wing protest as “terrorism” that justifies lethal force.

          Sweet Jesus the amount of extremist propaganda that’s gets peddled these days is mind boggling. To think people like this think they’re better than the people brainwashed by Fox and friends…

          Then again… We’re on Lemmy lmfao.

          • @MutilationWave
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            011 months ago

            You think every cop, judge, and prosector ain’t corrupt?

            • BlanketsWithSmallpox
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              -211 months ago

              Reads like satire, probably as serious as the Herman Cain award lmfao.

              The cognitive dissonance of your average Lemming is staggering.

    • @[email protected]
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      5311 months ago

      Adding to this. The judge said “It engenders the same fear that January 6 does.” So if this crime is just as bad Jan 6, shouldn’t he be getting the same punishment as other Jan 6 traitors. Like you said, a shorter sentence. Not saying I agree with the judge but pick a side.

      • @Malfeasant
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        11 months ago

        To a rich person, losing some (not even all) of their money is the most terrifying thing imaginable.

      • Flying Squid
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        3011 months ago

        Oh I know. Littlejohn committed the real type of crime- financial.

        • Omega
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          4111 months ago

          Financial crime against the rich, specifically.

          • @Malfeasant
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            311 months ago

            What other kind is there? Stealing from the poor isn’t crime, it’s just business.

        • Tarquinn2049
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          1011 months ago

          Judge: I asked my caddie’s chauffeur what a bank was, and he said it was a place poor people store money that isn’t properly invested. Therefor, robbing a bank is tantamount to that most heinous of crimes; theft of money!

      • Xhieron
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        1311 months ago

        Don’t catch you slippin’ now

  • @DharkStare
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    29411 months ago

    The judge compared Littlejohn’s actions to those of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, noting that, “your actions were also a threat to our democracy.”

    Because stealing and releasing tax documents is the same thing as attempting to violently overthrow the government.

    • Hegar
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      11511 months ago

      “your actions were also a threat to our democracy.”

      This is one of those exciting sentences where you have to substitute ‘democracy’ for ‘rich people’s yacht money’.

      • @[email protected]
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        311 months ago

        I disagree. As commendable as his actions are, he clearly broke a law that is there for a good reason.

        • @Kiwi
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          311 months ago

          But how did it endanger democracy? Every president ever has willingly released the documents he leaked. How were his actions dangerous?

          • @[email protected]
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            “Trust in the system” is a resource that needs managing. If the contractor got off lightly, it would erode the trust people have that the IRS will manage their information.

            Let alone the fact that a light sentence for a guy who leaked the administration’s foe’s information would be incredibly corrupt

    • AnonTwo
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      5511 months ago

      So the judge is in with trump. Hope none of his cases go that guys way.

      Like yeah, he broke the law and needed to be punished. But it wasn’t government secrets, which i’m pretty sure is already legally coded separately from this guys crimes, and also neither of which are treason, which would be the capital attack.

      So the guy blatantly spoke against his own legal experience for a political swing.

      • @buddascrayon
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        She was appointed by Joe Biden and is an immigrant to this country from Uruguay. I don’t think she’s a Trump sycophant, I think she’s just a lawful pedant and a fan of hyperbole.

      • @shalafi
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        I was going to argue that the attack on the Capitol (though your spelling may more accurately reflect real life) was not treason. No enemies were afforded aid or comfort.

        Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or imprisoned and fined, and incapable of holding any U.S. office.” [emphasis mine]

        Now I’m rethinking my life. How could I have been so wrong about such a pivotal event in my life?!

        (For any of your assholes thinking I’m a 01/06 sympathizer or apologist, I doubt you personally know anymore more angry. Given my druthers, I’d ask the court to impose the death penalty and carry it out personally. And I’m not some angry, young, keyboard warrior talking. I’ve thought on this much.)

      • fmstrat
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        211 months ago

        This same judge has sentenced many for J6.

    • SeaJ
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      5311 months ago

      Apparently Norway must hate democracy since all of their tax returns are public.

      • Optional
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        1111 months ago

        In a manner of speaking, yes.

    • Snot Flickerman
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      2611 months ago

      Fucking judges are blowhards stuck up their own ass wanting to make the judgments they hand down sound more important than they are.

      It’s all about feeding their giant fucking egos.

    • SaltySalamander
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      2311 months ago

      Friend of mine recently was busted with an ounce of pot, he was compared to Al Capone in court by the judge. Judges can be straight sociopathic.

  • @[email protected]
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    16411 months ago

    That’s RIGHT! Releasing Tax Returns gets you MORE Jail Time then trying to violently overthrow the United States Government and HANG the Vice President! That will teach Hostile Countries to MESS with US!

    • @gAlienLifeform
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      5311 months ago

      The way we turned our backs on Afghani interpreters who tried to get asylum here should have shown Charles Littlejohn what happens to people who fight for America

      • @[email protected]
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        511 months ago

        He probably knew. There are more stories of bad outcomes for that kind of shit than good ones. The fact that he did it anyway is why his actions are so admirable and heroic.

  • @paddirn
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    16111 months ago

    Yet holding onto classified documents, then hiding them and lying about it to investigators for months gets nothing but a very stern finger-wagging?

    • @[email protected]
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      411 months ago

      It may still come to bite him in the ass. The trial is actually scheduled to May this year but the scheduling will be looked at in March. The charges themselves are pretty serious, I think it was something like 30 charges under the espionage act and 10 charges for obstruction of justice or false statements.

      There’s a reason Trump wants to postpone it until after the election. His only shot at wiggling out of it is by becoming president.

  • @mildlyusedbrain
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    14111 months ago

    Lol check out this bs: "The judge compared Littlejohn’s actions to those of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, noting that, “your actions were also a threat to our democracy.”

    “It engenders the same fear that January 6 does,” Reyes added."

  • @[email protected]
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    12311 months ago

    Leak a billionaires tax records: 5 years.

    Literally rape while a billionaire: 0 years.

    • @[email protected]
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      3111 months ago

      Rape a girl behind a dumpster, with rich parents: think about his swimming career! 6 months, 4 with good behavior.

    • @[email protected]
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      211 months ago

      Yeah, statute of limitations on rape shouldn’t exist. It’s kinda bonkers it hasn’t been removed yet.

    • @aidan
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      -911 months ago

      It’s hard to prosecute rape 30 years later, fairly.

      • @[email protected]
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        111 months ago

        They were able to prove it well enough for E. Jean Carroll’s civil case to consider the assault a fact

        • @aidan
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          111 months ago

          No, it was considered more likely than not. A civil trial has a completely different standard from a criminal one.

    • @PrettyLights
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      3311 months ago

      …because the leaker plead guilty. If he went to trial this would have taken longer.

      Does no one read the article or understand basic legal processes?

      • @[email protected]
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        311 months ago

        A lot of people just want to be mad. This thread is full of people saying he should just be released, without realizing that if we release him because we happen to like the outcome, what’s that saying for the next person who wants to break the same law.

        Don’t get me wrong, I’m as happy as everyone else that he did release the documents, but he broke the law to do it and knew the consequences when he did so. He knew this was a possibility.

      • @MrModule
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        -411 months ago

        So let me ask you something. What do you get out of this? Hanging around in places where you believe that all the people are wrong and foolish? Waiting for some comment that’s just low enough hanging fruit for you to know enough to have a basic response to, does this satisfy you? Your statement is no shit and your question is rhetorical. Do you just like standing in the middle of a crowd and screaming, denoting yourself separate and superior? Is this what you do online?

        • @PrettyLights
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          611 months ago

          I like to have a diversity of thought and thought the Fediverse of all places would be promoting that. Instead everyone lumps into tribes and follows groupthink without question.

          I’ve been here since LW started and belong here just as much as anyone else.

  • @raynethackery
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    10311 months ago

    If you declare you are running for President, it should trigger an automatic disclosure of your entire tax record.

    • @[email protected]
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      If you try to get any supervisory position in the federal government, they do a thorough background check, including checking on your debts. It’s important to know whether someone at any level of management is susceptible to pressure or bribery. This goes for a LOT of non-management federal positions, too.

      But the president? No, we’ll just trust him. What’s a political candidate going to do, get up on a stage and lie?? Don’t be ridiculous.

  • @bustrpoindextr
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    9611 months ago

    Aight, I mean sure. It was wrong, but 5 years? I understand that not all judges sentence in the same way but 5 years? Insurrection gets basically gets butt pats and this guy gets 5 years?

      • AnonTwo
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        1611 months ago

        To be fair in Epsteins case his testifying could’ve probably put some people behind bars. This guy won’t have anymore information now that he’s been pulled away from the system.

    • @[email protected]
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      1011 months ago

      If you mess with wealthy people, they’ll come at you fast with prison time. See also Elisabeth Holmes and SBF (I don’t necessarily disagree with their sentences, but you don’t see someone that scammed a bunch of poor people get the same sentences).

  • @njm1314
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    8211 months ago

    Anyone has ever deserved a pardon it’s this guy

    • @[email protected]
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      Unfortunately a presidential pardon would be as blatant a political act as they come. Or at least that’s how it would be perceived.

      He’ll be OK. There’ll be employers lining up to give him a job afterwards.

      • @Zess
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        1011 months ago

        Putting ketchup on a burger and not mustard is seen as a political act anymore. Trump pardoned a group of war criminals, Charles Littlejohn deserves to walk free.

        • @[email protected]
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          -211 months ago

          The law is the law. We need to keep acting in good faith or we’re no better than the GOP. I agree with your sentiment but I think he knew exactly what would happen and did not expect to be let off the hook.

          • @MutilationWave
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            111 months ago

            I doubt he expected five years though. It’s not like he was making money from what he did or showing classified information that could harm someone.

            • @[email protected]
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              111 months ago

              I do not want him to be punished, but at the same time ‘we’ need to uphold the standards that ‘they’ would not (when it suited them).

      • @Reddfugee42
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        611 months ago

        Which means GOP would do it in a heartbeat but we for some reason never could dream of doing so

      • @psmgx
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        411 months ago

        Pfffffff Biden is old as fuck and would be on his second term. The final act of his political career, and as political foosballs go about as long lasting as Barak Obama having a ketchup stain on his suit.

      • @agitatedpotato
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        411 months ago

        I miss the days when politicians weren’t afraid to do political things. These days they can’t even pass bills.

      • @Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In
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        111 months ago

        There’ll be employers lining up to give him a job afterwards.

        Whistle-blowers are not very employable.

    • @AllonzeeLV
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      This is what the US does to heros that speak truth against the owner class.

      • @[email protected]
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        You’re not wrong but I feel you might be being overly specific. It’s not just the US that protects their wealthy – this would happen anywhere – some places maybe a little less harshly, but plenty would be more harsh, too. The Panama Papers journalist was killed “extrajudicially”

    • Schadrach
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      411 months ago

      Why? No legal requirement to do so, it was literally something that started when a candidate did it to show how honest and transparent he was and caught on. It’s not illegal activity to refuse, so whistleblower laws don’t apply.

      Also, even if they did for Trump’s returns, he released a lot more than just Trump’s returns so he’d still be in the hot seat.

    • @iopq
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      Even Trump deserves the privacy protections guaranteed by law

      • @[email protected]
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        There is a law which requires the IRS to turn over tax records for high government officials when asked by Congress, and Trump ordered his head of the IRS to ignore the orders.

        Now admittedly this is not the same as being public, but I don’t think that there are rules preventing Congress from publishing this information once received, so it is in practice public.

        Plus Trump promised to publish his tax returns, so basically he should be thanking this patriot for saving him the trouble.

        • @iopq
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          The guy is a government employee, but he’s not Congress. In fact, we should be able to trust that the government won’t publish our records to the public because some guy who works there feels like it.

          You allow it in this case, who knows whose records get leaked next time?

          • @[email protected]
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            111 months ago

            You’re correct, the leaker is not Congress. Congress was denied the ability to see the President’s returns because President Trump and his subordinate broke the law and refused to supply his returns to Congress when asked.

            This law does not apply to everyone, just high government officials. I’m the worst case anyone in a high position in the US government would be forced to have financial transparency, and I’m okay with that.

            • @iopq
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              111 months ago

              I’m saying for all the people defending the leaker, that wasn’t the correct way to do it. Sue in court and see what comes out of it.

      • @PrettyLights
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        -3911 months ago

        You’re not allowed to say that here.

        Breaking federal law is only bad if you’re on the right.

        Its insane how hypocritical many LW posters are while claiming they want to save our democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Laws only apply to people you disagree with.

        • @Fedizen
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          He got a longer sentence than many of the January 6th rioters. The reality is he committed a crime against billionaires and the Jan 6th dumbasses only committed crimes against public officials despite the latter criminals being more violent.

          But I guess crimes only count when they affect the ultra wealthy plutocrats.

          • @PrettyLights
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            -1711 months ago

            He got a longer sentence than many of the January 6th rioters.

            That’s not the topic of any of my comments at all.

            Many posters are ignoring basic facts of law and how courts work, just because they feel wronged.

            Do I think the difference in length of sentence is fair for this leak vs jan 6 rioters? No it’s not fair, but that’s an opinion unrelated to the speediness of this trial entirely.

            • @TrickDacy
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              011 months ago

              Many posters are ignoring basic facts of law and how courts work, just because they feel wronged.

              So what you’re saying is that the commenters here are humans with biases and feelings about perceived injustice?! This is a travesty. People should really strive to be as robotic as possible! If a serial killer gets off on a technicality, welp guys that’s just how shit works sometimes and you aren’t allowed to express feelings about that.

              • @PrettyLights
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                111 months ago

                Sure, but those same commenters also ridicule the other side for being uneducated and not understanding the law or operating based on feelings rather than facts.

                Pot, meet kettle.

                • @TrickDacy
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                  011 months ago

                  Right yeah the problem we have is then expressing feelings about Hillary Clinton. Not that they are objectively wrong about most of what they think about her and other dems. /s

                  If they had their facts straight they’d be well within their rights to want her and others locked up

        • 🦄🦄🦄
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          1711 months ago

          You’re not allowed to say that here.

          And yet they did. Shocking. How does that fit in your narrative?

        • Dark Arc
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          1411 months ago

          Of all the laws to pick and choose on, I’ll happily pardon this one.

          Trump literally said he’d do it and then didn’t.

          Every other president in recent history has done it.

          It’s not like someone forced him to eat his hat. He was forced to follow a convention that he’d already told people he intended to follow.

        • @WaxedWookie
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          Trump (like the bulk of the right) believe and act as though laws and norms are used solely to protect yourself and punish those they don’t like. Much like the paradox of tolerance, allowing these people to hide behind rules and norms they won’t respect themselves isn’t healthy for democracy, freedom, or the rule of law - the best way to protect those things is to keep the likes of Trump out of power. You’ve already seen what he’ll do with democracy given half a chance.

          • @PrettyLights
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            -1811 months ago

            Keep him out how? By any means necessary, even illegal and unamerican ways?

            Is this the “paradox of democracy” now?

            The only way to save law and order is to not follow law and order? Do you realize how Fascist that sounds?

            • @WaxedWookie
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              511 months ago

              No - I mean actually have him face consequences.

              Biden has treated him with kid gloves for multiple reasons - mostly because he doesn’t want to be seen as uncivil or disturbing the status quo. There’s massive scope to do more without getting into illegal territory.

              How fascist does it sound, exactly - please enlighten us.

              Of course, if we took Trump’s recent insistence that nothing the President does can be seen as illegal, Biden could just send SEAL Team 6 to kill him - but this is the attitude we’re defending the democracy against.

              What does “unamerican” mean to you?

        • @[email protected]
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          011 months ago

          Depends which laws, doesn’t it? There are different ones you see (give him a break, guys he’s learning)

  • originalucifer
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    7611 months ago

    too bad judge Reyes isnt going to tell us how serious it is to steal classified documents and sell them.

    • @j4k3
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      Selling classified documents to Russian and Chinese interests is standard practice for the oligarchy though. Some petty serf peasant slapping a few feudal lords, that is a real crime in Neo Feudal America.

  • @linearchaos
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    7611 months ago

    They made an example of them. That judge is well enough off to be thoroughly upset that somebody might release their crooked tax documents.

    Honestly I think they should slip something into the law, for this type of leak if the person was lying and you release the document proving them lying that you get a slap on the wrist.

    • AutistoMephisto
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      1211 months ago

      Yeah. I mean, considering what they could have done, though, I’d say 5 years is less of a slap on the wrist, and more of a whack with a yardstick.

      • @[email protected]
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        Five years is literally the worst sentence you can get for the crime he pled guilty to. From how it’s worded, the most recommended penalty for that crime appears to be a $5000 fine and maybe a little jail time.

        They “threw the book at him” by all definitions of the word.

        • AutistoMephisto
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          511 months ago

          So, they gave him the maximum sentence, and the pro-Trump judge was pissed the sentence couldn’t be any higher? What a piece of shit.

          • @[email protected]
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            511 months ago

            Apparently Ana Reyes was appointed by Joe Biden. You can’t really call her a fascist, but her delusional liberal view of the world make her an indirect but effective supporter of fascism: If the inequality caused by the insane concentration of wealth and the resulting systemic corruption and injustice is not addressed, it causes degradation of material conditions and creates a fertile ground for fascism. But this they don’t want to hear.

            In my view the wealth inequality violates the intent of the constitution and Littlejon is a political prisoner.

          • @[email protected]
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            211 months ago

            I can’t speak for whether the judge was pro-Trump. It doesn’t sound (from other replies) like that was the case.

            I think it’s more that the everyone in the System (from prosecutors to judges) have a strong dislike for whistleblower crimes.

        • @doricub
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          111 months ago

          deleted by creator

      • @linearchaos
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        411 months ago

        Could have done worse. Whistleblowers generally deserve significant leniency though I feel. Especially for a crime where no one was injured.

        • @[email protected]
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          He got the maximum sentence under §7213

          I mean, they could have disappeared him or thrown in a bunch of bullshit charges. But for what he did, he got as bad as it gets. The DOJ page even said they sentenced him so harshly to send a warning to people who consider repeating his behavior.

          Whistleblowers are always punished harshly on purpose.

          • @linearchaos
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            411 months ago

            Whistleblowers are always punished harshly on purpose.

            yeah we gotta fix that.

          • AutistoMephisto
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            211 months ago

            Wait. Was this a felony? Okay, then I guess he’s not getting off lightly. Sure, he’s in prison for only 5 years, but after he gets out he’s still a felon. That means no voting, no gun ownership, no passport so he can’t leave the country, ever.

            • @[email protected]
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              511 months ago

              Wait, felons can’t get a passport so they leave the US? That kind of makes them political prisoners.

            • @[email protected]
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              211 months ago

              I thought the same as you, but it seems it’s not so bad. You can vote after a felony sentence in the US, but maybe not right away and sometimes you have to settle court fines first.

              Guns take longer and maybe never if your crime was violent or involved gun laws.

              For passports, it seems most certain to be a no if your crime involved trafficking, smuggling, or anything to do with another country.

              I think this guy can expect these rights restored after his sentence. But you’re still right that the conviction will likely be a continuing problem in other ways. I doubt he could be hired as CPA or anywhere else involving confidential records.

      • @doricub
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        311 months ago

        I mean, in the eyes of the judge and the lawyers, the crime was premeditated, covered up, and the defendant is remorseless. Pretty clear grounds to give the maximum penalty allowed by law.

        I believe the tax records for large corporations and the upper class should fax higher scrutiny without having to be publicly leaked.

        • @[email protected]
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          No the judge was far more extreme then that:

          “What you did in attacking the sitting president of the United States was an attack on our constitutional democracy,” Reyes said. “We’re talking about someone who … pulled off the biggest heist in IRS history.” The judge compared Littlejohn’s actions to those of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, noting that, “your actions were also a threat to our democracy.” “The fact that he did what he did and he’s facing one felony count, I have no words for,”

          She practically admitted that her thinking was politically motivated. And that even though democracy in the US was and still is in danger and wealth inequality severely undermines the democratic vote of citizens, there is absolutely no excuse to resist against tyranny using illegal means. She’s not a fascist, but she’d make an excellent nazi. Yes Godwin’s law but that is how that worked. If Trump wins again democracy in the US could literally end but she sees no morally justifiable reason to resist.

          PS: Or she just doesn’t understand that extreme wealth inequality and rise of fascism are linked, and you cannot fight the one without fighting the other.

        • AutistoMephisto
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          211 months ago

          True, however, power concedes nothing without a demand. The only thing the powerful fear is losing that power. You can call for higher scrutiny of the upper class and corporations all you like, but they won’t do it unless forced to. And they’re also the ones who write national policy, so good luck writing a law to force them to do anything. It will be shoved into a shredder the second it enters the DC city limits.

    • @[email protected]
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      1111 months ago

      I think he was given the maximum to keep the peace and not allow the dimwits to say he was a Dem puppet.

      I have a feeling that in the background he’ll likely be treated ok.

      • @agitatedpotato
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        11 months ago

        So if his sentence is altered by possible violence, ie ‘keep the peace’ then that means terrorism works on the government. File that one away for later, could come in handy.

    • @AeonFelis
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      411 months ago

      Honestly I think they should slip something into the law

      Remind me again who are “they” exactly, and what are their incentives?

      • @linearchaos
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        311 months ago

        They are lawmakers.

        Incentives would be to engage whistleblowers, forcing all to be more transparent in cases where no one is physically harmed.

        • @AeonFelis
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          511 months ago

          Okay. Now pretend for a moment we are talking about the real planet Earth with the existing legislators of it’s actual countries.

          • @linearchaos
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            411 months ago

            You get approximately 0% of the change you never seek.

    • @[email protected]
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      -711 months ago

      Can you cite anything that the judge has gone outside of the recommended punishment for this type of crime? Or is this just an idea that all of these powerful government officials are conspiring to scare people into not doing something like this? Any evidence that this judge is rich and corrupt? Or is it just that it fits the narrative that you want to be true so you’ll assume it’s true?

      • @[email protected]
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        11 months ago

        The recommended penalty for unauthorized disclosure is something more like a $5000 fine. The maximum allowable penalty for the offense is 5 years in prison.

        “Wanting to do the right thing” is apparently an aggrivating circumstance.

        • @[email protected]
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          011 months ago

          Thanks for actually addressing the point. Where did you get this information from? Not that I don’t trust you, I’m just curious to read more.

            • @[email protected]
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              011 months ago

              Thanks appreciate it. Considering he got the harsher end of the spectrum, I’m going to look into this further.

              • @[email protected]
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                11 months ago

                He got the maximum sentence because he was unrepentant of the crime, and because anything less than that would seem biased. I didn’t see any mention of fines, maybe he got off easy there?

                If you check the original article there’s a bit at the bottom where the prosecution wanted to charge him for much more than just one Unauthorized Disclosure

                E:switch Prosecution for Judge

                • @[email protected]
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                  111 months ago

                  I thought when I read the article that the judge was upset that the prosecution didn’t go for more.

              • @[email protected]
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                211 months ago

                When you do, you’ll find out he did more things (more folks’ tax returns, though he didn’t publish those AFAIR). I’m sure he pled to this crime because of those other things. But that doesn’t really justify maximum sentence for what he was found guilty of.

                • @[email protected]
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                  011 months ago

                  But that doesn’t really justify maximum sentence for what he was found guilty of.

                  Considering I was planning on looking into this, can you explain your reasoning? I could easily be convinced one way or another.

      • @linearchaos
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        411 months ago

        I can cite a shit ton of the uber wealthy that get off scott free for a hell of a lot worse. But that won’t support your point any better.

        • @[email protected]
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          -711 months ago

          So, no, you don’t have any evidence that this judge has done anything wrong, nor do you know that the ruling was especially harsh. Figured.

          • @linearchaos
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            111 months ago

            Does professional trolling pay well these days?

            • @[email protected]
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              -411 months ago

              No argument, empty ad hominem. It’s amazing that people still don’t realize how much this reveals how little faith they have in their own argument.

              • @linearchaos
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                111 months ago

                Wow, you just keep going, it’s truly impressive at this point.

                • @[email protected]
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                  -311 months ago

                  Don’t be too impressed as it’s easy to keep going when you argue the facts and the other person can’t do anything but sling insults. This is especially true when they aren’t even good at slinging insults.

    • @SocialMediaRefugee
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      That is like saying if you break into someone’s house and steal something that was stolen already then your crime is ok? “Two wrongs don’t make a right”

      • @[email protected]
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        11 months ago

        “Two wrongs don’t make a right”

        The utter irony of saying this.

        The defendant’s last name is “LittleJohn.”

        Little John was the sidekick of Robin Hood.

        Robin Hood is the embodiment of the idea that, actually, two wrongs can very much make a right - stealing from the corrupt rich and giving to the poor is a good thing, actually. And breaking the law is good when the law only protects and empowers the corrupt and the wealthy

        And that is exactly what this defendant did. Much like his coincidental namesake, he stole from the corrupt rich and shared what he took with everyone else. And much like the “Outlaw” Robin Hood, he was punished for it.

        The only problem is that the United States isn’t waiting for the Good King Richard to return and right all of our society’s wrongs. Because, unlike Merry Old England, we don’t have such a Good King coming to save us.

      • @linearchaos
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        711 months ago

        Nah, I’m saying that sometimes someone does the wrong thing for the right reasons and they deserve leniency

        I’m saying I’d like to see him tried and sentenced like he’s a billionaire.

      • @Duamerthrax
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        411 months ago

        Right and Wrong are human concepts that change and adapt depending on the the motive of the story teller.

        Is killing another human being wrong? What if we call it Murder? What if we call it Self Defense? What if we call it Sacrifice? What if we call it War?

        All these words we use to describe the same thing, but whether its a Right or Wrong highly depends on the era, local, and values of the story teller.

        Was it wrong for Americans to help slaves escape to the north before the Civil War? That was illegal. Our hiding Jews during the Holocaust? That was also illegal.

        Would it be ok to break into my neighbor’s house if I saw them drag another human being against their will, but the cops wont do anything because I can’t prove it? Pretty sure a jury wouldn’t fault me Breaking and Entry for that.