IRS whistleblowers who revealed Hunter Biden nightmare get brand new mission
Washington D.C.: Two IRS whistleblowers, Joseph Ziegler and Gary Shapley, who claimed the Department of Justice (DOJ) slow-walked and obstructed their investigation into Hunter Biden’s finances, have been promoted to senior advisors at the US Treasury Department. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the move, stating that the two will help drive “much-needed cultural reform within the IRS".
The whistleblowers, who came forward earlier this year, alleged the DOJ interfered with their probe into Hunter Biden’s tax affairs, including claims that US Attorney David Weiss, who led the investigation, was blocked from bringing charges by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland. The DOJ denied these allegations.
During their testimony before Congress in 2023, Ziegler and Shapley detailed their concerns about the handling of the investigation. Ziegler stated, “The US Attorney’s Office and Department of Justice’s handling of the Hunter Biden tax investigation was different from any other case in my 14 years at the IRS. At every stage, decisions were made that benefited the subject of this investigation.”
Shapley echoed these sentiments, saying, “I believe I’m risking my career, reputation, and casework by coming forward. I made this decision after multiple attempts to blow the whistle internally at the IRS. Nobody should be above the law, regardless of political affiliation.”
Hunter Biden ultimately pleaded guilty to tax charges in 2023 but was pardoned by his father, President Joe Biden, in December of that year.
In their new roles, Ziegler and Shapley aim to address systemic issues within the IRS and promote fairness and efficiency. “Over the last six years, the bureaucratic nonsense under the Biden administration was something I never thought I’d see in my 15 years of government service,” Ziegler said in an interview.
“I fully support what the Secretary is trying to do, and I hope Gary and I can make recommendations that will make the IRS more fair, effective, and efficient for every taxpayer, regardless of political affiliation.”
Shapley emphasized his commitment to supporting future whistleblowers, stating, “I want to be an advocate for whistleblowers. If you’ve seen something wrong, I can be a resource to you. We are in a position to affect change and weed out the bureaucracy that has infected the federal government, specifically the IRS and Department of Treasury.”