Two IRS employees who became whistleblowers in the investigation of Hunter Biden’s taxes are transitioning to new senior positions within the Treasury Department. Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who testified before Congress during Republican scrutiny of Hunter Biden, claim they faced retaliation for their involvement in the inquiries. These two individuals stated they were removed from the case in December 2022 after informing their leadership about Justice Department officials and former Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss allegedly delaying the investigation and enforcement actions prior to the 2020 presidential election.
Shapley has now been promoted to Deputy Chief of IRS Criminal Investigations, and Ziegler will serve as a senior adviser for IRS reform in the secretary’s office. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced his plan to integrate Shapley and Ziegler into the department to allow them a full year to delve into any irregularities within the IRS. “We’ll learn what’s been going on at the IRS, what’s been wrong,” Bessent stated. “How could this Hunter Biden nonsense have happened? And we’re going to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone again, whether they’re Republicans, Democrats or independents.”
The probe into Hunter Biden culminated with President Joe Biden pardoning his son, thus avoiding the possibility of imprisonment over federal gun and tax convictions, a move that contrasted with his prior assertions against utilizing presidential powers for familial advantage. Hunter Biden had previously been slated for trial last September in California on charges of not having paid at least $1.4 million in taxes. However, following commencement of jury selection, he unexpectedly opted to enter guilty pleas to misdemeanor and felony charges.
Earlier that year, Hunter Biden faced conviction in Delaware for three felony charges related to acquiring a firearm in 2018 under false pretenses, as prosecutors claimed he lied on federal forms about his drug use. The advancement of Shapley and Ziegler has been positively received by Republican lawmakers. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, remarked, “Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler put their entire careers on the line to stand up for the truth, and instead of being thanked, the Biden administration treated them like skunks at a picnic.”
Senator Grassley also noted the pervasive issue of whistleblower retaliation and expressed hope that this change marks the beginning of more redemption stories for wronged whistleblowers. “By taking a stand for whistleblowers, President Trump and his Cabinet are ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability,” he added. In a joint statement, Shapley and Ziegler expressed gratitude for the new opportunities to employ their expertise in advancing the administration’s objectives to eradicate fraud and waste in federal operations.