Trump sues IRS for $10B after refusing to release taxes like other presidents, leak shows he paid almost nothing
President controls agencies he's suing for his own payout
Charles Littlejohn worked as an IRS contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton when he leaked Trump's tax returns to The New York Times and ProPublica between 2018 and 2020. He pleaded guilty in Oct. 2023 to one count of disclosure of tax return information. In 2024, a federal judge sentenced him to the maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Key Concepts
Essential concepts and terms to understand this topic
War Powers
The constitutional division of war-making power between Congress and the President.
Section 301 Tariffs
A law provision allowing the president to impose tariffs on countries engaged in unfair trade practices after investigating their conduct.
Commander in Chief
The President's role as the highest-ranking military officer, making the President a civilian authority over the armed forces.
Constitutional War Powers
The Constitution divides authority over military force between Congress (which declares war and funds troops) and the president (who commands forces as commander in chief).
Federal Question Jurisdiction
Federal courts' constitutional authority to hear cases involving federal law, treaties, and the Constitution itself.
IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act)
Federal law authorizing the president to freeze assets and restrict financial transactions during national emergencies involving foreign threats.
Peacetime vs. Wartime
How constitutional powers shift between Congress and the President during wartime and peacetime.
Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974
A statutory framework—distinct from Section 122—establishing the legal authority under the Trade Act of 1974 for the president to address balance-of-payments and national security trade matters.
Key People
5IP
Information pending
Role pending
Details pending
IP
Information pending
Role pending
Details pending
IP
Information pending
Role pending
Details pending
IP
Information pending
Role pending
Details pending
IP
Information pending
Role pending
Details pending
What you can do
Contact your representative about conflicts of interest in government lawsuits
civic action
Ask Congress to provide oversight when the president sues agencies he controls.
Submit a comment to the Treasury Inspector General about IRS data security
civic action
Ask what safeguards prevent contractor breaches of taxpayer data.
Track the lawsuit through federal court records
learning more
Monitor how courts handle a president suing his own agencies.