IRS Whistleblower Alleges Investigation into Hunter Biden Was Blocked from Pursuing Leads
Gary Shapley, the IRS whistleblower who oversaw part of the agency’s investigation into Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, revealed that his inquiry was hindered from following certain leads that could have potentially led investigators to the current president. Shapley, a current IRS agent with over 14 years of experience, made these additional allegations in an interview with CBS News. These claims emerged more than a week after Hunter Biden entered into a plea deal with U.S. Attorney David Weiss, pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of tax evasion and resolving a federal firearm offense.
House Republicans have criticized the plea deal, considering it a mere “slap on the wrist.” They have pledged to continue their investigations into both President Biden and his son, as well as allegations of government agency interference during the Hunter Biden investigation. In response, President Biden denied ever lying about discussing his son’s business dealings.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressed their personal support for their son in a statement released by the White House after the announcement of Hunter Biden’s plea deal. White House spokesman Ian Sams stated, “The president and first lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life. We will have no further comment.”
Allegations that the Investigation Was Blocked from Pursuing Leads
Shapley claims that the investigation he oversaw into Hunter Biden was conducted in an irregular manner and would have had a different outcome for someone without Biden’s connections. He further alleged that during former President Donald Trump’s tenure, his team was prevented from taking measures that could have implicated Hunter Biden’s father, the sitting U.S. president. Shapley stated, “There are certain investigative steps that we weren’t allowed to take that could have led us to President Biden. We needed to take them.”
Shapley also asserted that the investigation into Hunter Biden should have resulted in additional, more serious charges, including felonies. He claimed that personal expenses were falsely recorded as business expenses, including payments for prostitutes, sex club memberships, and hotel rooms for alleged drug dealers.
The GOP-Controlled House Investigates Biden’s Treatment
The House Ways and Means Committee, which has been leading an inquiry into potential interference during the IRS investigation into Hunter Biden, released testimony from two IRS whistleblowers who worked on the Biden case. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, stated that the whistleblowers “describe how the Biden Justice Department intervened and overstepped in a campaign to protect the son of Joe Biden by delaying, divulging, and denying an ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden’s alleged tax crimes.” Smith also indicated that the committee will continue its investigation into Hunter Biden and whether President Biden may be implicated in any interference.
Will this Impact Hunter Biden’s Plea Deal?
It remains uncertain whether these new allegations will affect Hunter Biden’s plea deal. Although the plea deal was reached with David Weiss, a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for Delaware, it still requires approval from a federal judge. District Judge Maryellen Noreika has scheduled a hearing for July 26 in Wilmington, Delaware, to formally process the plea agreement. The judge’s decision on whether to accept or reject the plea agreement in light of the IRS whistleblowers’ allegations is yet to be determined. Weiss has not made any public comments on the case since announcing the plea deal earlier this month.
Original Story at www.usatoday.com – 2023-07-02 14:17:16
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