WASHINGTON — A pair of IRS whistleblowers testified Wednesday afternoon before the House Oversight Committee about alleged meddling in the Justice Department’s investigation of Hunter Biden.
The hearing before the GOP-led panel featured testimony from Gary Shapley, an agent with the IRS’s criminal investigation division, and Joseph Ziegler, who works in the agency’s international tax and financial crimes section. Committee chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said the two witnesses had «critical information» to share about the panel’s investigation into what he said are «the Biden family’s influence-peddling schemes.»
In prepared testimony released ahead of the hearing, Shapley said his red line was to watch U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware, who oversaw the Hunter Biden case, tell a room full of senior FBI and IRS investigators in October 2022 that he «was not the person who decides whether to file charges.» Shapley said he raised his concerns during the meeting and two weeks later, the Justice Department removed the IRS from the case entirely.
In his prepared statements, Shapley was highly critical of Weiss and Attorney General Merrick Garland for failing to appear before Congress to address the case, accusing them of «using their offices and their tax dollars to issue narrow, carefully crafted non-denial statements.» that they have confused rather than clarified for the public, all without being subject to cross-examination as to the facts.»
Ziegler’s prepared testimony stated: «I have reason to believe that there was serious mismanagement present throughout this investigation, that there was a gross waste of funds related to tax dollars spent in the investigation of this case, and that there was an abuse of authority with DOJ-Tax and the Delaware United States Attorney’s Office.»
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment about the hearing. Ian Sams, a White House spokesman, said in a statement that House Republicans were «staged partisan stunts to try to politically damage» President Joe Biden.
“Instead of wasting time on politically motivated attacks on a Trump-appointed federal prosecutor, the rule of law, and the independence of our justice system, House Republicans should join President Biden in focusing on the most important issues. for the American people, like continuing to reduce inflation, create jobs and strengthen health care,» Sams said. «There are real issues that Americans want us to spend our time on, and President Biden believes we can work together to achieve real progress, if House Republicans would make an effort instead of constantly pulling off partisan stunts to try to damage him politically. President Biden has remained committed to having this matter handled independently by the Department of Justice, under the leadership of a Trump-appointed federal prosecutor.»
NBC News previously reported that Hunter Biden had reached an agreement to plead guilty to two federal misdemeanors for failing to pay his taxes. The president’s son also faces a gun possession charge for another felony that will likely be dismissed if he meets certain conditions.
Shapley, for his part, has said US Attorney David Weiss of Delaware was unable to bring more serious charges against the president’s son than those included in the plea deal, which Weiss has repeatedly denied. President Donald Trump appointed Weiss to oversee the investigation, which began in 2018.
During the hearing, the Democrats were expected to try to discredit the witnesses by pointing out that Weiss has stated that he had the ultimate authority to prosecute and also pointing out that both whistleblowers acknowledge that there are often disagreements between investigators and prosecutors.
Earlier this year, Shapley told members of the House Ways and Means Committee that Weiss had sought the authority to slap Hunter Biden in Washington, DC, and California with broader charges. But Weiss recently made clear in a letter to Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, that he could have brought charges against Hunter Biden in any US jurisdiction.
Announcing the hearing, Comer alleged in a statement that the whistleblowers had «provided information about how the Department of Justice refused to pursue evidence implicating Joe Biden, tipped off Hunter Biden’s attorneys, allowed time to run out with regarding certain charges and put Hunter Biden on the path to a charming plea deal.»
“Americans are rightfully angry about this two-tiered justice system that seemingly allows the Biden family to operate above the law,” he said. «We need to hear from whistleblowers and other witnesses to this weaponization of federal law enforcement power. This hearing is an opportunity for the American people to hear directly from these credible and courageous whistleblowers.»
zoe richards and Ken Dilanian contributed.