IRS whistleblowers will testify to Congress as they claim ‘slow-walking’ of the Hunter Biden case

IRS whistleblowers alleging a deliberate slowdown of the Hunter Biden case are scheduled to testify before Congress. House Republicans are intensifying their investigations into President Joe Biden and his family, and the House Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, and Ways and Means committees will conduct the hearing. The whistleblowers, identified as Greg Shapley and an unnamed individual referred to as “whistleblower x,” claim that investigative steps into Hunter Biden’s case were intentionally delayed, including enforcement actions prior to the 2020 election. This will mark the first public testimony from the two IRS agents assigned to the federal investigation on tax and gun charges against Hunter Biden. The hearing is expected to reveal the identity of the second agent, previously undisclosed in the interview transcripts released by Republicans.

The congressional inquiry into the Justice Department’s handling of the Hunter Biden case began last month, shortly after it was announced that Hunter Biden would plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors. The House Ways and Means Committee voted to disclose hundreds of pages of testimony from the IRS employees, highlighting the obstacles faced by agents in interviewing relevant individuals and obtaining search warrants.

One significant claim made by Shapley is that U.S. Attorney David Weiss requested special counsel status to bring tax charges against Hunter Biden in jurisdictions outside Delaware, such as Washington, D.C., and California, but was denied. Both Weiss and the Justice Department have strongly refuted these allegations, asserting that Weiss had full authority over the case and never sought charges in other states.

The second IRS whistleblower expressed ongoing frustrations with the handling of the case, dating back to the Trump administration under Attorney General William Barr. He initiated the investigation into Hunter Biden in 2015 and delved extensively into his personal and financial matters. Republicans have attempted to secure testimony from other agents involved in the case, but their efforts have mostly been unsuccessful thus far.

Republicans, including Representatives Jim Jordan, James Comer, and Jason Smith, chairmen of the respective committees, have portrayed the Justice Department’s case as politically biased and interfered with. They have characterized Hunter Biden’s plea agreement as a favorable deal aimed at avoiding jail time.

Representative Comer acknowledged the challenges Republicans faced in explaining Hunter Biden’s complex financial affairs and providing compelling evidence of specific wrongdoing by the president or his family. He expressed hope that the IRS agents’ testimony would be more effective in elucidating the situation.

Senior officials at the Justice Department have countered these claims, citing the exceptional circumstances surrounding a criminal case involving the son of a prominent presidential candidate. It remains unclear whether the whistleblowers’ descriptions indicate internal disagreements on the approach to the extensive investigation or a pattern of interference and preferential treatment. Department policy advises caution in charging cases with potential political implications near an election to avoid influencing the outcome.

One incident highlighted by Shapley involved the execution of a search warrant at a Virginia storage facility where Hunter Biden’s documents were stored. He claimed that an assistant U.S. attorney involved in the case contacted Hunter Biden’s lawyers, a customary practice in high-profile cases, but it compromised their opportunity to access evidence before potential tampering.

Similar circumstances arose when FBI officials informed Hunter Biden’s Secret Service detail before attempting to interview him and his business associates, aiming to avoid conflicts between law enforcement entities.

House Democrats have emphasized that U.S. Attorney David Weiss was appointed by former President Donald Trump and that the federal investigation into Hunter Biden originated during Trump’s administration. Despite this, Republicans continue their inquiries, requesting voluntary testimony from senior officials at the Justice Department, FBI, and IRS, including Weiss. They have also called for a special counsel review of alleged retaliation against the whistleblowers.

Weiss stated in a letter to Representative Jordan that he would be willing to testify before the committee once he can legally share information with Congress without violating the department’s policy on discussing ongoing investigations. Testimony from Justice Department officials may occur after Hunter Biden’s plea hearing, scheduled for the following week.

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• House Judiciary Committee
• House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
• House Ways and Means Committee