IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who previously voiced concerns over delays in the Hunter Biden investigation, were left stunned by an email from a supervisor applauding the probe’s outcome. Journalist Catherine Herridge, who broke the story, shared the congratulatory message from the IRS Criminal Investigation division, which praised the team’s “significant sacrifices” and commitment in securing a conviction.
The email, which Herridge posted to X (formerly Twitter), included remarks that puzzled the agents. “Thank you for your commitment to the mission, which culminated in a great conviction,” read the message. But Shapley and Ziegler, who emerged last year as whistleblowers alleging the inquiry had been intentionally stalled, found the tone jarring.
“I honestly couldn’t believe it,” Ziegler said. “I called Gary right away and said, ‘Can you believe they sent this?’” Shapley, visibly frustrated during the interview, added, “Those are words that aren’t supported by the actions of the agency.” He interpreted the email as a tactic to “cover their backside,” given the scrutiny the IRS is now under regarding the investigation’s handling.
The fallout from the Hunter Biden case includes a series of lawsuits: Biden himself has sued the IRS over alleged leaks of his taxpayer information, while Shapley and Ziegler have filed a defamation suit against Biden’s lawyer. In the interview, Shapley expressed his view that his IRS career “is over,” while Ziegler shared feelings of being “up against a machine” with resources to wear him down.
Herridge’s report revealed that neither the IRS nor Hunter Biden’s attorney responded to requests for comment before publication.
EXCLUSIVE: Internal IRS email shows supervisor celebrating Hunter Biden conviction after whistleblowers allege IRS retaliated against them for exposing double standards and preferential treatment throughout investigation.
“Those are words that are not supported by the actions of… pic.twitter.com/wgrxGCQ3Uv
— Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) October 29, 2024