Joseph Ziegler, a 13-year veteran and self-described gay Democrat within the IRS's Criminal Investigation Division, has come forward as the anonymous whistleblower in the Hunter Biden investigation. Testifying alongside his supervisor, Gary Shapley, before the House Oversight Committee, Ziegler alleged political interference impacted prosecutorial decisions in the case.
Ziegler argued that Hunter Biden should have faced felony tax charges, not just misdemeanors. He also suggested that certain communications reviewed during the investigation might contradict President Biden's claims of non-involvement in his son's business dealings.
Ziegler expressed concerns about ethical breaches and abuse of power within the investigation, citing instances where prosecutors allegedly deviated from standard procedure, slowed down the investigation, and created unnecessary obstacles. He even claimed investigators were prevented from interviewing Hunter Biden's adult children.
Ziegler called for Congress and the Biden administration to consider appointing a special counsel to oversee the Hunter Biden investigation and related inquiries. He also recommended establishing a formal channel for federal investigators to raise concerns about the need for a special counsel.
Shapley, who had previously spoken to the media, testified that prosecutors withheld evidence found on Hunter Biden's laptop from investigators. He alleged that the Delaware U.S. Attorney's Office delayed investigative steps, like interviews and search warrants, until after the 2020 election.
Shapley also testified that prosecutors prevented investigators from pursuing information from WhatsApp messages where Hunter Biden allegedly discussed business dealings with his father and CEFC China Energy executives. He emphasized the importance of investigating such connections in any financial investigation.
Shapley further claimed that a planned search warrant for the guest house at the Biden residence in Delaware was blocked due to concerns about the "optics," despite probable cause existing. He also alleged that investigators were instructed not to ask about President Biden during witness interviews.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer echoed the whistleblowers' claims, stating their testimony supported the committee's findings in its six-month investigation into the Biden family's business dealings. He highlighted the Biden family's receipt of approximately $17 million from foreign sources between 2014 and 2019.
The White House dismissed the hearing and the allegations, with spokesman Ian Sams tweeting about a lack of credible evidence. The House Oversight Committee countered, suggesting the White House was afraid of the truth emerging. This hearing comes amid a joint congressional investigation into the Hunter Biden probe and potential political influence.
Hunter Biden's plea agreement, which includes guilty pleas to tax misdemeanors and a firearm charge, is expected to keep him out of prison. His first court appearance is scheduled for July 26. The Justice Department maintains the investigation is ongoing and denies any political influence, a claim echoed by U.S. Attorney David Weiss.
