IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler, who exposed political interference in their investigation of Hunter Biden’s tax crimes, have been promoted to leadership positions at the Treasury Department after enduring two years of retaliation. They will serve as senior advisers to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, focusing on reforming the tax agency for a year before transitioning to senior IRS leadership roles to execute their plans. Their promotion is seen as a win for whistleblowers and a step towards promoting truth and weeding out bad actors affecting democracy.
Senator Chuck Grassley praised the promotion of Shapley and Ziegler, emphasizing their bravery, courage, expertise, and integrity. Grassley had privately urged Bessent to place the whistleblowers in leadership positions within the IRS. The men were removed from the Hunter Biden case after encountering obstacles like obstruction from the Department of Justice and slow progress from then-Delaware US Attorney David Weiss. Despite facing retaliation from six IRS executives, Shapley and Ziegler persisted in their pursuit of justice, ultimately leading to a guilty plea from Hunter Biden for tax fraud in California and a pardon from his father for gun felonies in Delaware.
The elevation of Shapley and Ziegler to leadership positions at the Treasury Department is seen as a move towards driving cultural reform within the IRS. They are expected to focus on collections, modernization, and customer service to deliver a more efficient taxpayer experience for Americans. Grassley commended their promotion, noting that it sends a clear signal that pointing out wrongdoing is honorable. The Office of Special Counsel found that the IRS had wrongly retaliated against Shapley and Ziegler, validating their claims and highlighting the importance of whistleblower protections in improving transparency and accountability.
A complaint to the Merit Systems Protection Board outlining the retaliation they faced is pending, as Shapley and Ziegler continue their fight for accountability within the IRS. Their lawyers, Tristan Leavitt and Jason Foster, emphasized the whistleblowers’ underlying desire to do what was right and noted their struggles with isolation, lack of career advancement, and relentless scrutiny. The opportunity provided to them by Secretary Bessent is seen as a chance to utilize their expertise to address issues within the IRS and contribute to meaningful reform within the agency.
Shapley and Ziegler have expressed their commitment to promoting truth and supporting whistleblowers while working to improve the IRS for the benefit of the American people. Their new roles in leadership positions are viewed as a positive step towards combating corruption and promoting integrity within the agency. Grassley’s unwavering support of the whistleblowers and the efforts of other lawmakers, including House committee chairmen, have been instrumental in ensuring that Shapley and Ziegler are able to use their skills to assist the administration and drive meaningful change within the IRS. Despite facing challenges and retaliation, the whistleblowers have remained resolute in their pursuit of justice and accountability.
