Trump Admin Promotes IRS Agents Who Probed Hunter Biden Tax Case

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Trump Admin Promotes IRS Agents Who Probed Hunter Biden Tax Case/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Two IRS whistleblowers, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who testified about the Hunter Biden tax investigation, have been promoted to senior advisory roles at the Treasury Department. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the pair will lead an internal probe into IRS misconduct. Their testimony had alleged that the Justice Department slowed enforcement actions against Hunter Biden before the 2020 election. The investigation concluded with Joe Biden pardoning his son after Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to tax and gun charges.

IRS Criminal Investigator Joseph Ziegler, right, and IRS Special Agent Gary Shapley, appear before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee during a hearing to charge that the Justice Department interfered with a yearslong investigation into Hunter Biden, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

IRS Agents Who Investigated Hunter Biden Promoted at Treasury: Quick Looks

Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, former IRS whistleblowers, are now senior advisers at the Treasury Department.
The two had testified that the Justice Department delayed actions against Hunter Biden during the 2020 election cycle.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says they will investigate misconduct at the IRS and recommend reforms.
The Hunter Biden case ended with Joe Biden issuing a presidential pardon for his son.
Republican lawmakers praised the appointments, calling it a victory for whistleblowers and accountability.

IRS Whistleblowers Who Investigated Hunter Biden Get Treasury Promotions

IRS Agents Who Spoke Out Now Tasked With Investigating the IRS

Two IRS whistleblowers, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who played key roles in exposing alleged interference in the Hunter Biden tax investigation, have been promoted to senior advisory positions within the Treasury Department.

Shapley has been named Deputy Chief of IRS Criminal Investigations, while Ziegler will serve as a senior adviser on IRS reform in the Treasury Secretary’s office.

Biden Administration Allegedly ‘Slow-Walked’ Hunter Biden Case

Shapley and Ziegler gained national attention after testifying to Congress in 2023, alleging that the Justice Department and former U.S. Attorney David Weiss slowed down investigative steps into Hunter Biden’s tax and gun charges to avoid legal consequences before the 2020 presidential election.

They claimed they were removed from the case in late 2022 after raising concerns about the delays.

“How could this Hunter Biden nonsense have happened? We’re going to make sure it doesn’t happen again—whether to Republicans, Democrats, or independents,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a Fox News interview Tuesday.

Bessent emphasized that the two IRS veterans will be tasked with conducting an internal probe into IRS misconduct, reviewing investigative failures, and recommending reforms to prevent political interference in tax investigations.

Hunter Biden Pardoned After Guilty Plea

The Hunter Biden case concluded when President Joe Biden issued a presidential pardon for his son, sparing him from prison sentences for felony tax and gun convictions.

Hunter Biden had been set to stand trial in California for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes but instead pleaded guilty in a last-minute deal.
He was also convicted in Delaware for purchasing a gun while being addicted to drugs, violating federal law.

Republicans Hail Whistleblower Promotions as ‘Victory for Accountability’

Republican lawmakers and government transparency advocates welcomed the appointments of Shapley and Ziegler, calling it a win for whistleblowers and government accountability.

“They put their entire careers on the line to stand up for the truth,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Instead of being thanked, the Biden administration treated them like skunks at a picnic.”

Grassley and other GOP leaders praised Trump’s decision to elevate the whistleblowers, arguing that it represents a major step toward ensuring the IRS operates fairly and transparently.

“President Trump and his Cabinet are ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability,” Grassley added.

Whistleblowers Pledge to Investigate IRS Misconduct

In a joint statement, Shapley and Ziegler said they were grateful for the opportunity to bring reform to the IRS.

“We appreciate the opportunity to use our skills and firsthand knowledge to root out waste and fraud in the federal government,” they said.

As they begin their new roles, their findings could shape IRS policies and future investigations, ensuring that political influence does not undermine tax enforcement.