Promotions Spark Debate Over Hunter Biden's Tax Probe

Two IRS investigators who claimed the Justice Department gave Hunter Biden special treatment have been promoted. Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who have worked at the IRS for many years, will now be senior advisors. This news comes after they accused the Biden administration of meddling in the investigation into Hunter Biden's tax issues. The Justice Department and FBI strongly disagreed with these claims at the time. The controversy began in 2023 when Shapley and Ziegler spoke out. They said that the U. S. Attorney in Delaware, who was leading the investigation, was constantly held back by DOJ officials. This was a serious accusation, suggesting that political pressure was influencing a legal case. Days after their testimony, a plea deal between Hunter Biden and the Justice Department fell apart. This deal would have allowed Hunter to plead guilty to minor tax charges and avoid a felony gun charge. The prosecutor who led the investigation, David Weiss, denied these claims. He stated that he faced no political pressure to give Hunter Biden special treatment. Despite this, Hunter later pleaded guilty to several tax-related charges, including some that are felonies. His father, President Joe Biden, pardoned him just before leaving office. The promotions of Shapley and Ziegler were praised by Senator Chuck Grassley. He had written multiple letters encouraging the Treasury Secretary to promote the two whistleblowers. Grassley believes that their promotions are a step towards recognizing the importance of whistleblowers. However, some people question whether these promotions are a reward for their accusations or a genuine effort to reform the IRS. Shapley will now be the Deputy Chief of IRS Criminal Investigations, while Ziegler will work as a senior advisor for IRS reform. This move has sparked a debate. Some people see it as a way to improve the IRS by bringing in experienced investigators. Others see it as a political move, rewarding those who made serious accusations against the administration. Either way, it's clear that these promotions have brought the controversy surrounding Hunter Biden's tax probe back into the spotlight.