Two Internal Revenue Service whistleblowers reveal stunning details about restrictions placed on their investigation into Hunter Biden's tax case.
According to Daily Mail, IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler disclosed in an interview with veteran journalist Catherine Herridge that they were explicitly prohibited from investigating President Joe Biden during their probe into his son Hunter's tax affairs.
The agents describe a system where powerful individuals, termed "sensitive persons," receive special treatment from the tax agency. The whistleblowers exposed that prosecutors directly instructed them to avoid inquiries about "the big guy," a reference to Joe Biden. Their testimony reveals that despite having knowledge of Hunter Biden's laptop's authenticity, the IRS, FBI, and Department of Justice prevented them from examining its contents.
Ziegler detailed how the approaching election influenced their investigation's parameters. The team faced significant limitations on their investigative actions during this period, suggesting political considerations affected the probe's scope.
The whistleblowers report experiencing professional repercussions for speaking out about the IRS's handling of Hunter Biden's case. Shapley described facing intense pressure from the agency, while Ziegler characterized his situation as battling against a well-funded institutional machine.
Despite these challenges, both agents expressed vindication following Hunter Biden's eventual guilty plea to tax crimes outlined in the indictment.
Shapley shared his perspective on the situation, stating:
The IRS just has a smothering blanket on me hoping that I quit, that they find some way to terminate me or commit suicide or something
The agents received an email from their IRS supervisor after Hunter's conviction, thanking them for their work. However, Shapley dismissed this gesture as bureaucratic self-preservation, suggesting the agency was protecting itself from potential oversight investigations.
Both whistleblowers previously testified before Congress about systematic delays in the Hunter Biden investigation, including during the Trump administration leading up to the 2020 election.
Their congressional testimony highlighted specific concerns about the Department of Justice's handling of the case. Shapley testified about delays in the tax investigation, while Ziegler emphasized Hunter Biden's preferential treatment throughout the process.
The controversy extended to U.S. Attorney David Weiss's role in Delaware, with conflicting accounts about his authority to bring charges in other jurisdictions.
Hunter Biden has responded to the whistleblowers' allegations by filing a civil lawsuit against the IRS, claiming Shapley and Ziegler participated in a coordinated effort to damage his reputation.
The tax investigation, which began in 2018 during the Trump administration, culminated in Hunter Biden pleading guilty to both misdemeanor and felony tax charges last month. Prosecutors detailed his lavish lifestyle during a period of tax non-compliance, highlighting expenditures on entertainment and luxury accommodations while neglecting his tax obligations.
