Staff Reports
The saga surrounding Hunter Biden continues to thicken like cold grits on a winter morning, this time involving a couple of IRS agents who appear to have more gumption than most in D.C. Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, seasoned investigators who once looked into the first son’s shenanigans, are alleging that the IRS is trying to keep them out of a lawsuit initiated by none other than Hunter himself. The irony is practically dripping from this story like sauce on a BBQ rib.
In court documents filed recently, Shapley and Ziegler claim they have been denied the opportunity to intervene in Hunter’s lawsuit against the IRS, which he filed in September 2023. Their attorneys are practically tripping over themselves to emphasize that this lack of inclusion is not just a petty oversight; it’s a blatant example of the IRS’s institutional conflict of interest. Apparently, it’s a conflict that goes all the way to the top and is further demonstrated by the so-called “retaliatory” actions taken against them. One can’t help but imagine the IRS as that schoolyard bully who can dish it out but can’t take it when the tables are turned.
Hunter Biden whistleblowers blast IRS for moving to block them from lawsuit
via @asholiver https://t.co/Afm1Rl2fOB
— Jason Foster (@JsnFostr) August 8, 2024
These two agents had previously taken their concerns to Congress, explaining how the IRS and the Department of Justice had been dragging their feet on the Biden inquiry. Of course, in the world of Washington, where accountability is like a unicorn, many met these allegations with yawns. However, they grabbed headlines when Shapley and Ziegler shared their grievances, alleging that protective measures were being taken to safeguard the president’s son. Naturally, Hunter isn’t sitting idly by—he’s taking them to court, claiming the agents illegally disclosed his tax information. One has to wonder if this whole circus is just a desperate bid to deflect attention from the real issues at hand.
Not surprisingly, Hunter’s attorney is looking to play the media game as usual, pointing fingers at the agents for their informal chats instead of focusing on the substantial allegations made by clients-turned-whistleblowers. Shapley and Ziegler, however, argue any information they provided in interviews had already been made public, which would render those accusations a classic case of “no harm, no foul.” Meanwhile, the IRS is attempting to control the narrative by insisting they alone should defend against this lawsuit, hinting that Shapley and Ziegler get no say in a matter directly affecting their careers.
Amidst all the legal wrangling, Jason Foster, an attorney who advocates for whistleblowers, highlighted that Shapley has already felt the sting of IRS retaliation. His coworkers have shifted under mysterious circumstances that have disrupted his professional life, all while he seems to have been blacklisted from promotions. This brings up a pointed question: is the IRS engaged in a full-fledged cover-up to shield the high-profile Biden from accountability? It would seem so, especially when one considers the lengths to which they’ll go to silence those seeking the truth.
As the agents continue their uphill legal battle, they have sought to protect their reputations and careers, arguing that running interference in the lawsuit could result in job losses—a rather high-stakes game for merely trying to do their jobs. They have also pursued their claims of retaliation with the Office of Special Counsel, further complicating their plight. In a landscape where accountability seems to be as rare as an honest politician, this clash between IRS agents and the first son spins a web of intrigue that might have even the most seasoned political junkies leaning in for the next act.
