Senior Republicans in Congress have demanded an investigation into what they call "unlawful whistleblower retaliation against veteran IRS employees" involved in an investigation of Hunter Biden, the president's son.
In a letter sent Wednesday to special counsel Henry Kerner, whose office investigates claims of retaliation against federal whistleblowers, Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson and Representatives Jason Smith, James Comer, and Jim Jordan alleged that IRS officials violated "anti-gag" rules that protect federal employees.
GOP Seeks Special Counsel Probe
The letter is the latest effort by Republicans to capitalize on allegations by whistleblowers that supervisors impeded investigators during their multiyear investigation. In addition, they require a briefing on the actions taken by Kerner's office by July 19, CBS News reported.
In the letter, they referenced two internal IRS administrator communications. In one, Republican legislators assert that a supervisory special agent reminded personnel on May 19 that case information could not be shared without "seeking sanction" from a supervisor.
In a May 25 email, Republican lawmakers claim an IRS deputy commissioner wrote that the agency is "deeply committed" to whistleblower protections. Still, the email "fails to inform IRS employees of their constitutional and statutory right to make protected disclosures to Congress," according to the Republicans.
In a court filing dated June 20, Delaware US Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee overseeing the five-year investigation, stated that Hunter Biden had consented to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts and judicial diversion related to a felony firearms charge.
A judge must sanction the agreement with prosecutors at a hearing currently scheduled for July 26. IRS supervisory agent Gary Shapley was the first to allege retaliation; his attorneys informed members of Congress in May that he and his team had been removed from the investigation at the behest of the Justice Department.
Jordan and other House Republicans have requested that Weiss be available for interviews behind closed doors with Congress. Weiss stated in his letter that he would meet with Congress "at the opportune moment" but could not do so while the Hunter Biden investigation was ongoing.
The two IRS whistleblowers began coming forward months in advance of their closed-door testimony before the Republican-controlled House Ways and Means Committee. When asked about Shapley's testimony on June 23, the White House referred to an earlier statement.
IRS Whistleblower Denies Spreading Hunter Biden Case Information to Media
Meanwhile, an IRS whistleblower who accused US authorities of giving Hunter Biden preferential treatment in a recent tax investigation has denied disclosing information to the media.
According to Daily Mail, Gary Shapley's attorney criticized First Son's legal team for "falsely" claiming that he was the source of a Washington Post article published in October 2022. This article stated that federal investigators had "sufficient evidence" to prosecute Biden with tax and firearm violations.
The 14-year veteran of the US tax agency asserts that DOJ officials deliberately derailed his investigation into the 53-year-financial old's affairs. Shapley has argued that almost three years later, they still have not received all the data from the infamous laptop belonging to Hunter, which could implicate not only Hunter but also his father.
He was discouraged from investigating Hunter Biden's lucrative international business transactions or the president's probable involvement. It prompted his legal team to accuse Shapley of consistently fabricating stories in the media and request an investigation by the Department of Justice.
In May, Shapley and another whistleblower who wishes to remain anonymous testified before the influential Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee for six hours.
Tax secrecy laws prohibit him from disclosing all his information regarding the Hunter Biden investigation, but congressional testimony is protected. Together with the letter, Shapley's attorneys submitted a sworn affidavit to Congress attesting that he has "never disclosed confidential taxpayer information."
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