IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler recently shared their insights during a “Pod Force One” interview, discussing the remarkable level of corruption they allegedly encountered while looking into Hunter Biden’s financial matters prior to a pardon from President Biden.
Both Shapley and Ziegler, who have since advanced to leadership roles at the IRS, indicated that the Biden family wielded excessive influence over the inquiry into Hunter’s financial affairs.
“The Biden family resided just a few miles from the office. Hunter’s guest house was even closer, about eight miles away,” Ziegler mentioned, elaborating on the five-year investigation surrounding Hunter Biden’s significant tax issues amounting to $1.4 million.
“We learned that Joe Biden was headed to the FBI office during our investigation, which raised serious concerns for us. I mean, was this really the best setting for a tax investigation?” he added.
Ziegler pointed out that “politics was quite strong” in Delaware, mentioning that the presiding judge had to recuse herself after making improper comments regarding the initial search warrant, underscoring the close-knit nature of the community troubled by the Biden’s influence.
Eventually, Hunter Biden pled guilty in September 2024 to federal tax crimes but avoided incarceration due to a pardon his father issued in December 2024, right before Hunter was set to be sentenced for a separate gun-related case.
Shapley and Ziegler underscored the broader context of the case, including an initial charge related to failing to register as a foreign agent in connection with lucrative jobs in countries like Ukraine, Romania, and China. All of this, they said, was overshadowed by what they termed a “sweetheart” plea deal involving tax evasion and the subsequent pardon.
Shapley remarked that the funds in question were utilized for the family’s benefit, always aimed at enriching the Biden family, whether it was for tuition or various bills.
Interestingly, he noted Hunter’s role at Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy firm, where he was compensated up to $1 million despite lacking any relevant experience.
In a revealing email from Hunter’s laptop, which was authenticated during his trial for firearm offenses in June 2024, he expressed frustration to his daughter, saying, “I want you all to do what I did and pay for everything in this family for 30 years.”
“It’s challenging, but don’t worry, unlike Pop, I won’t demand half your salary,” he added in January 2019.
Shapley suggested that “shaking down” cash seemed to be a tradition within the Biden family, pointing to messages between Hunter and Chinese partners leading up to substantial transfers to accounts linked to Biden’s family.
He recalled a moment where Vice President Joe Biden, while in Ukraine, alluded to firing a prosecutor to secure funding. “You could argue this has been a long-standing practice in the Biden family,” he stated.
The current president has consistently denied any involvement in his son’s financial dealings, even as evidence suggests he mingled with foreign entities connected to Hunter. In December 2023, Biden dismissed claims about the unethical behavior of his son and brother as “a pack of lies,” despite public polls indicating otherwise.
Shapley highlighted the extraordinary scale of access and influence the Biden family commanded, adding that in his surveillance, important investigative actions were halted due to outside influences, with some information getting suppressed.
Both whistleblowers explained how evidence typically moves from the investigator to the prosecutor but indicated that, in this situation, it was filtered through the prosecutor’s office first.
Shapley remarked, “Had the case proceeded to trial, we would have delved deeply into the FARA violations and ultimately revealed more evidence implicating Joe Biden.” He expressed that what transpired may amount to obstruction.
As for their future actions, both men acknowledged they wouldn’t shy away from blowing the whistle again, even facing potential repercussions. Ziegler emphasized the importance of truthfulness, saying, “We took an oath to uphold our duty, and if we notice something amiss, we will speak up.”
