In a significant legal move, Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for a staggering $10 billion. This action stems from the agencies’ alleged failure to safeguard his tax returns, which were leaked to media outlets between 2019 and 2020. The complaint, lodged in a Miami federal court, highlights Trump’s claims of reputational damage and financial loss due to the disclosures.
Allegations of Negligence and Harm
The lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday, names Trump, his adult sons, and the Trump Organisation as plaintiffs. They contend that the IRS and Treasury did not implement necessary safeguards to prevent a former contractor, Charles Littlejohn, from leaking sensitive tax information to what Trump describes as “leftist media outlets,” including the New York Times and ProPublica. The plaintiffs argue that they have suffered “significant and irreparable harm” to their reputations and financial interests due to the leaks, which they claim were either intentional or a result of gross negligence.
This lawsuit places Trump in an unusual position, as he is taking legal action against government agencies that fall under the executive branch, which he currently heads. Notably, Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary and acting IRS Commissioner, has not been named as a defendant in the case.
A Pattern of Legal Action
Since securing a second term in office in 2024, Trump has become increasingly litigious, frequently pursuing high-profile lawsuits against various media organisations. Notable among these is a $15 billion claim against the New York Times and book publisher Penguin Random House. He alleges that their coverage was designed to undermine his electoral chances. Additionally, Trump is seeking $10 billion from the Wall Street Journal over a contentious article related to a birthday greeting for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as another $10 billion from the BBC regarding edits made to a speech prior to the January 6 Capitol riots.
Alejandro Brito, a lawyer based in Florida, has been instrumental in filing these lawsuits, including the most recent one against the IRS and Treasury. He has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the latest complaint.
The Consequences of the Leaks
In the recent lawsuit, Trump and his co-plaintiffs assert that the New York Times published at least eight articles and ProPublica produced over 50 pieces based on the information leaked by Littlejohn. They claim that these disclosures have led to reputational and financial detriment, public embarrassment, and a damaging portrayal of their business affairs. The complaint specifies that the leaks have adversely affected not only Trump’s public image but also that of his family and business.
In a related development, Charles Littlejohn was charged by prosecutors in September 2023 for leaking the tax records of Trump and thousands of other affluent Americans, allegedly driven by a political agenda. Littlejohn subsequently pleaded guilty in October 2023 to unauthorized disclosure of tax return information and was sentenced to five years in prison in January 2024.
Why it Matters
This lawsuit underscores the ongoing tensions between Donald Trump and various government institutions, reflecting broader issues of privacy, accountability, and media ethics. It raises critical questions about the protection of personal information held by government agencies and the potential repercussions for public figures when such information is mishandled. As the legal proceedings unfold, they may further illuminate the intersection of politics and media, as well as the implications for Trump’s continued influence on the political landscape.
