IRS whistleblower who accused Justice Department officials of slowing Hunter Biden tax probe to appear before GOP-led Ways and Means Committee after canceling meeting with Finance Committee of the Democratic-led Senate.
In the House, Ways and Means have supervisory jurisdiction over the IRS. In the Senate, the Finance Committee has the same power.
Gary Shapley, a 14-year-old IRS agent, said he immediately saw discrepancies in the investigation of Hunter’s tax investigation when he was assigned the case in January 2020. He worried that prosecutors were mishandling the “controversial” case and felt compelled to report due to his oath of office.
He canceled an appearance before the Senate Finance Committee after his attorney, former prosecutor Mark Lytle, met with committee officials for “hours.”
The committee said it was ready “to hold a meeting under conditions consistent with laws protecting taxpayer data and to ensure a fair and thorough investigation”, a spokesperson for the committee confirmed to DailyMail.com.
The spokesperson said they believe Shapley challenged their standard meeting process to “protect taxpayer information,” but would try to reschedule in the future.
Gary Shapley, a 14-year-old IRS agent, said he immediately saw discrepancies in the investigation of Hunter’s tax investigation when he was assigned the case in January 2020. He worried that prosecutors were mishandling the ‘controversial’ case and felt compelled to report due to his oath of office
Shapley spoke out three years into the investigation, which is being led by Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney in Delaware David Weiss. The investigation focuses on the possible unpaid tax debt for Hunter’s tenure as a member of the board of directors of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, when his father was vice-president, as well as a possible false declaration for a purchase of firearms.
“It’s a job, and my oath of office is to treat everyone we investigate fairly,” Shapley told CBS News this week. ‘[This case] was way outside the norm of what I have experienced in the past. There were several steps that were slow – that just weren’t done – under the direction of the Department of Justice.
“When I saw the seriousness of some of these things, it didn’t become a choice for me anymore. It’s not something I want to do. It’s something I feel like I have to do.
The registered Republican, who claims not to be involved in politics, said alleged mismanagement affects “the fairness of the system” when taxpayers and “investigative subjects are treated differently.”
Shapley spoke out three years into the investigation, which is being led by Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney in Delaware David Weiss.
The investigation focuses on the possible unpaid tax debt for Hunter’s tenure as a member of the board of directors of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice-president, as well as a possible misrepresentation for a gun purchase, according to CBS News.
Late last year, an FBI leak revealed that agents believed there was enough evidence to support criminal charges, but none ever came. Shapley believed steps were being taken to protect Hunter.
“Each time it always seemed to benefit the subject,” he told CBS News. “It just got to the point where that switch was activated. And I could no longer silence my conscience.
NBC News reported “growing frustration” within the FBI that Weiss has yet to press charges. The investigation began in 2018 and Hunter Biden confirmed the DOJ was investigating his tax affairs in 2020 shortly after his father won the election. He borrowed $2 million to pay off back taxes.
The former Inspector General of the National Security Agency Office began documenting his concerns in June 2020 after he began to question whether the DOJ was acting “unethically” on the case.
Shapley’s concerns became public last month after his attorney, Mark Lytle, wrote to Congress asking for the tax official’s protection.
The letter also revealed that Shapley was removed from the case after attending a “busy meeting”, prompting him to speak out.
“That was my red line meeting,” the Republican said.
He also claimed he faced retaliation from IRS management after speaking out.
IRS chief Danny Werfel promised no retaliation for whistleblowers in response to questions from Ways and Means last month.
Hunter’s team also accused him of breaking the law.
The White House declined to comment, referring CBS News to an earlier statement that Joe “has made it clear that this matter will be handled independently by the Department of Justice, under the direction of a U.S. attorney appointed by the former President Trump, free from political politics”. interference from the White House. He honored that commitment.
The IRS also said it “cannot comment on specific taxpayer issues.”
