IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who have accused the Justice Department of attempting to cover up the investigation in the Hunter Biden case, have recently filed a lawsuit seeking to dismiss the lawsuit against the tax agency filed by Hunter Biden himself. This case offers a fascinating insight into the complexities of tax law and the potential consequences of tax evasion.
Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, took the IRS to court last September, demanding an investigation into what he considered to be inappropriately tampered tax information. He alleged that the tax whistleblowers, Shapley and Ziegler, had violated his right to privacy and sought to embarrass him by publicly disclosing his tax information.
However, neither Shapley nor Ziegler are named as defendants in the lawsuit. The only named party is the IRS, which they accuse of having a conflict of interest that may result in the agency failing to defend their legally authorized ‘protected disclosures.’
The whistleblowers’ motion to intervene underscores the DOJ Tax Division’s reluctance to dismiss the lawsuit and defend the whistleblowers’ disclosures in earlier filings. This exposes a clear conflict between the interests of Hunter Biden, the whistleblowers, and the governmental entities on which they blew the whistle.
The legal document asserts that Shapley and Ziegler did not violate the law in their disclosures and need the opportunity to intervene to defend their interests. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of complying with tax laws and the potential repercussions of tax evasion.
As this case unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the court navigates the complex legal and ethical issues at play. Regardless of the outcome, this case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of responsible financial citizenship and the potential consequences of tax evasion.