IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler have received significant promotions within the Treasury Department.
Following revelations of leniency towards Hunter Biden, their testimony led to legal consequences and systemic changes at the IRS, the Washington Times reported.
Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler's courageous actions brought them into the public eye as they testified to Congress about their removal from the Hunter Biden investigation. They detailed how the Justice Department intervened, obstructing their work.
Their disclosures led the Justice Department to abandon a lenient plea deal, which resulted in prosecutors charging Hunter Biden. He was eventually found guilty on gun charges and admitted guilt on tax charges, while President Biden pardoned him at the end of last year.
After the legal outcomes, officials appointed Shapley as deputy chief of IRS Criminal Investigations and assigned him to advise Secretary Scott Bessent on IRS reforms. Similarly, authorities promoted Ziegler to a significant position, where he contributed to these reforms.
Leaders view their promotions as a crucial step in strengthening whistleblower protection and fostering a culture of accountability within federal agencies. Senator Charles E. Grassley praised their promotions as vital for the future of whistleblowers.
Secretary Bessent has expressed high hopes for the two, stating that their new roles will drive essential cultural reforms within the IRS. This development follows their initial grievances, which they brought to Congress in 2023 when they criticized prosecutors for showing excessive leniency in handling the Hunter Biden case.
During their testimonies, Shapley and Ziegler asserted that prosecutors obstructed warrants and investigations that could have implicated then-President Biden, suggesting a broader scope of administrative interference. Moreover, they revealed that the FBI possessed Hunter Biden's laptop, which some had initially dismissed as Russian disinformation.
The whistleblowers also uncovered Hunter Biden's attempts to claim questionable expenses like prostitutes and club memberships for tax deductions. Furthermore, they brought to light an incident where Hunter Biden allegedly denied causing damage to a Los Angeles hotel, contrary to evidence the agents collected.
Reflecting on their experiences and future roles, the whistleblowers remarked on the complexities and challenges they faced during their investigations. They emphasized their commitment to utilizing their firsthand knowledge and skills to eradicate waste and fraud from the federal government.
Secretary Bessent commented, “I expect the men to drive much-needed cultural reform within the IRS.”
Sen. Charles E. Grassley supported this sentiment, highlighting the professional risk the whistleblowers embraced to expose the truth, despite facing significant adversity from the Biden administration.
The whistleblowers stated that they intend to leverage their experience for broader governmental reform and appreciate the pathway that Secretary Bessent provided to make a meaningful difference in the administration. These appointments not only recognize the professional valor of Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler but also demonstrate a commitment to transparent governance and the protection of those who risk everything to expose the truth. Leaders must implement their insights to shape a more accountable and efficient IRS.
Observers will closely monitor these developments as Shapley and Ziegler take on their new roles, influencing policy and driving administrative reforms to ensure integrity and fairness within the IRS and possibly across wider federal operations.
