San Francisco, CA: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a public apology to billionaire Ken Griffin and several other individuals, including former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, for the unauthorized disclosure of their personal information. The IRS acknowledged its failure to prevent the criminal conduct of IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn, who leaked confidential tax return information belonging to thousands of Americans to the media between 2018 and 2020.

As part of a settlement to a lawsuit brought by Citadel CEO Griffin against the IRS, the agency expressed regret for the data breach that occurred due to Littlejohn’s actions. Littlejohn misused his access to an IRS database to share tax returns of wealthy Americans with news outlets by circumventing the agency’s security measures. Griffin was among the victims whose information was leaked to the press.

In response to the incident, the IRS announced significant investments in data security to enhance the protection of taxpayer information. The agency acknowledged the vulnerabilities identified by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and pledged to address them to prevent similar breaches in the future.

Littlejohn, 38, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to the unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information. Griffin welcomed the outcome of the settlement, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding taxpayers’ sensitive data for the benefit of all Americans.

Brooke Cucinella, an attorney for Citadel Securities, discussed the case on a news program, highlighting the significance of holding the IRS accountable for security vulnerabilities and ensuring the protection of individuals’ information. The settlement with Griffin served as a catalyst for the IRS to publicly acknowledge the need for improved security measures and commit to enhancing safeguards for all Americans.

The IRS emphasized its commitment to preventing similar incidents in the future by implementing new safeguards and measures to protect taxpayers’ information. The settlement with Griffin and the public apology mark a significant step towards improving data security within the IRS and ensuring the confidentiality of individuals’ personal information.