Hunter Biden files lawsuit against IRS.
OAN’s Brooke Mallory
11:44 AM – Monday, September 18, 2023
On Monday, Hunter Biden and his counsel filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Washington, D.C., against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over alleged “unlawful disclosures” made by two whistleblowers who allegedly accused government prosecutors of improperly handling their probe into the president’s son.
Attorneys for 53-year-old Hunter Biden charged Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, both seasoned IRS agents, with engaging in an effort to “embarrass and inflict harm on Mr. Biden” by inappropriately “disclosing his private taxpayer information” in media appearances.
“During these interviews, Mr. Shapley and Mr. Ziegler provide unsubstantiated and selectively chosen allegations of nefarious and potentially criminal behavior,” said Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell.
Lowell claims that the IRS “failed to take reasonable steps to prevent its personnel from unlawfully disclosing” Hunter Biden’s taxpayer information in violation of the Privacy Act.
Hunter was indicted last week on felony gun charges following a nearly five-year investigation. This was two months after a plea agreement he had arranged with prosecutors collapsed under a federal judge’s questioning.
These developments followed serious allegations made by Shapley and Ziegler, who approached Congress in April with claims that top Department of Justice (DOJ) officials hindered efforts to bring more charges against Hunter Biden, constrained the scope of their investigation, and refused to grant special counsel status to the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in charge of the case.
The allegations have been refuted by the Justice Department and Attorney General Merrick Garland, who has defended U.S. Attorney David Weiss’ impartiality in the case. To make it clear that he had “full authority” to file charges whenever and wherever he pleased, Weiss himself wrote to legislators in June.
These denials, however, have not done much to allay fears that as House Republicans have asserted, the Justice Department gave Hunter a “sweetheart deal” from prosecutors.
Earlier this month, an ABC News/Ipsos survey also showed that almost half of Americans lacked confidence in the Justice Department’s impartial and fair handling of its investigation of Hunter Biden.
Shapley’s counsel made a statement in response to the case, saying: “Neither IRS SSA Gary Shapley nor his attorneys have ever released any confidential taxpayer information except through whistleblower disclosures authorized by statute. Once Congress released that testimony, like every American citizen, he has a right to discuss that public information.”
Republicans in Congress decided in June to make the transcripts of the two whistleblowers’ interviews public.
However, despite the committee’s directive not to disclose what was said in the interview “to individuals not designated to receive such information,” Lowell wrote that the whistleblowers made assertions in later television and podcast interviews that were not included in their testimony.
The IRS allegedly abdicated its duty to prevent the release of Hunter Biden’s tax information as a consequence, according to the lawsuit.
“The IRS has never instructed Mr. Shapley, Mr. Ziegler, or their representatives to refrain from publicly and unlawfully disclosing Mr. Biden’s confidential tax return information, much less taken reasonable steps to prevent its personnel from unlawfully accessing and disclosing Mr. Biden’s tax return information,” Lowell wrote.
Hunter Biden’s lawyers are asking for $1,000 for each case of “unauthorized disclosure” of his tax information, an allegation that claims that the IRS “willfully, knowingly, and/or by gross negligence, unlawfully disclosed Mr. Biden’s confidential tax return information.”
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What are the specific accusations against IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler regarding the alleged unlawful disclosures?
Title: Lawsuit Filed Against IRS by Hunter Biden Over Alleged Unlawful Disclosures
Introduction
In a recent development, Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden, has filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over alleged ”unlawful disclosures” made by two whistleblowers. The lawsuit claims that these disclosures included the improper handling of their probe into Hunter Biden’s tax affairs, potentially causing harm and embarrassment to him. This article will delve into the details of the lawsuit and the allegations made by the Biden camp.
Allegations Against IRS Agents
Hunter Biden’s attorneys, Abbe Lowell, accused two IRS agents, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, of unlawfully disclosing Hunter Biden’s private taxpayer information during media appearances. It is alleged that these agents provided unsubstantiated and selectively chosen allegations of nefarious and potentially criminal behavior, specifically targeting Hunter Biden. Lowell argues that the IRS failed to take reasonable steps to prevent such unlawful disclosures, which are in violation of the Privacy Act.
Felony Gun Charges and Plea Agreement Collapse
Last week, Hunter Biden was indicted on felony gun charges following a nearly five-year investigation. This indictment came as a surprise after a plea agreement he had arranged with prosecutors collapsed under intense questioning from a federal judge. These developments have further exacerbated the situation.
Allegations of DOJ Misconduct
Shapley and Ziegler approached Congress in April with claims that high-ranking Department of Justice (DOJ) officials hindered efforts to bring more charges against Hunter Biden, limited the scope of the investigation, and refused to grant special counsel status to the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney overseeing the case. These allegations have been staunchly refuted by the Justice Department and Attorney General Merrick Garland, who emphasized U.S. Attorney David Weiss’s impartiality in the case.
Concerns and Lack of Confidence
Despite the denials, concerns have arisen regarding the Justice Department’s handling of the investigation into Hunter Biden. House Republicans have alleged that he received a “sweetheart deal” from the prosecutors. Additionally, an ABC News/Ipsos survey conducted earlier this month revealed that almost half of Americans lack confidence in the Justice Department’s impartial and fair handling of the investigation.
Whistleblower Testimony and Disclosures
Responding to the case, Shapley’s counsel asserted that no confidential taxpayer information was released except through authorized whistleblower disclosures. The transcripts of the two whistleblowers’ interviews were made public by Republicans in Congress, although the directive was to prevent the disclosure of information to unauthorized individuals. Despite this directive, Lowell alleges that the whistleblowers made assertions in subsequent television and podcast interviews that were not included in their testimony. Consequently, Lowell argues that the IRS neglected its duty to prevent the release of Hunter Biden’s tax information.
Conclusion
The lawsuit filed by Hunter Biden against the IRS highlights the allegations of unlawful disclosures made by two whistleblowers. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the court will evaluate the claims and determine the extent of any wrongdoing. These developments amplify existing concerns about the impartiality of the Justice Department’s handling of the investigation into Hunter Biden, further contributing to the lack of confidence among the American public.
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