In a striking turn of events, former President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), seeking a whopping $10 billion in damages. The legal action follows the unauthorized disclosure of Trump's tax returns, which were leaked by Charles Littlejohn, an IRS contractor, in 2020.

The case has captured national attention due to the high-profile nature of the plaintiff and the gargantuan sum involved. Trump's legal team, led by the flamboyant attorney Alejandro Brito, claims that the leak has caused "substantial financial and reputational damage." This includes defending against what they describe as a meritless lawsuit brought by the New York Attorney General, which was based on the unauthorized disclosure of Trump's confidential tax information.

The controversy began when Littlejohn, employed by consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, illegally distributed hundreds of thousands of tax documents to news outlets, including ProPublica. These documents shed light on how minimal the contributions of some of America’s ultra-wealthy, including Trump, are towards the national coffers. Littlejohn has since pleaded guilty and received a five-year prison sentence earlier this year.

Adding to Trump's grievances, the New York Times published a series of revealing articles in September 2020, detailing Trump’s tax avoidance strategies. These reports showcased various write-offs and losses that significantly reduced his tax obligations.

In his lawsuit, Trump leverages the Privacy Act and 26 U.S. Code § 7431, which govern unauthorized disclosures. However, the complaint faces potential hurdles, such as the statute of limitations, which typically expires two years after the discovery of such disclosures. Trump's legal team asserts that he was only made aware of the leak in January 2024, a claim that seems at odds with prior widespread media coverage.

Further complicating the case is the matter of Trump's own statements prior to his presidency, where he had promised to release his tax returns voluntarily. Despite his previous transparency claims, the lawsuit argues that the forced disclosure via leaks has inflicted undue harm on Trump’s reputation and financial standing.

Observers also note the irony in Trump suing the federal agency he once oversaw, and highlight the case’s resemblances to a similar lawsuit by Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, which did not result in a victory but ended in a public apology from the IRS.

The legal battle unfolds under the scrutiny of Judge Kathleen Williams, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, leaving the public and legal experts alike speculating on the potential outcomes. As the case proceeds, it not only tests the legal waters but also continues to stir a media frenzy around the privacy rights of individuals versus the public’s interest in the transparency of its leaders.