IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler, who previously faced backlash for their investigative actions, have been promoted to senior advisory roles within the U.S. Treasury Department.
According to the New York Post, the pair's new path aims to foster extensive reforms in the IRS following their challenging experiences.
Shapley and Ziegler's journey began two years ago when they exposed political interference in their investigation of Hunter Biden's tax affairs. Their actions led to severe repercussions, including being sidelined in their careers.
Their primary accusations involved obstruction from the Department of Justice and former Delaware US Attorney David Weiss. They reported impediments such as blocked search warrants and undesired disclosures to Hunter Biden's legal team, contributing to the statute limitations expiring on major charges.
The whistleblowers officially complained about these injustices, focusing on six IRS executives who they claimed had retaliated against them. This complaint brought their plight to the attention of the Office of Special Counsel, which confirmed that the IRS acted inappropriately in their cases.
The affirmation by the Office of Special Counsel marked a crucial turn in their careers. It wasn't long after when Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, announced their appointments as senior advisers. This week, Shapley and Ziegler commence their advisory roles. Over the next year, they will be heavily involved in designing reforms meant to enhance how the IRS operates internally and serves the public.
Following their advisory tenure, they will transition into senior leadership roles within the IRS where they can directly implement their proposed reforms. This strategic placement represents a significant shift from their prior roles and is seen as a reset of their previously stalled careers.
In their new positions, Shapley and Ziegler focus on a range of improvements, from tax collection enhancements to modernizing how the agency interacts with taxpayers. Their overarching goal is to ensure a cleaner, more efficient IRS.
Scott Bessent praised the duo for their resilience and vision, stating that they bring a wealth of experience needed to overhaul IRS culture and operations. He appreciates the Gran, Iowan senator Chuck Grassley, for advocating strong whistleblower protections, which bolster transparency and accountability.
Grassley has publicly commended Shapley and Ziegler for their integrity and courage, acknowledging their promotions as sending a clear message about the value of whistleblowing. This endorsement highlights the broader political and operational support for their new roles.
The whistleblower’s motives are celebrated by their peers and political advocates alike. Tristan Leavitt and Jason Foster, prominent figures in the whistleblower advocacy field, have labeled their motivations as purely driven by a pursuit of justice and the betterment of government functions.
Joe Ziegler emphasized the broader significance of their advancement, stating, "This is a win for every whistleblower out there," affirming their commitment to promoting transparency and contesting detrimental practices within governmental bodies.
Simultaneous to their career developments, Hunter Biden, now charged with tax fraud and gun charges, remains a central figure in the controversial investigations that triggered Shapley and Ziegler's disclosures. His legal battles encapsulate a broader narrative of alleged nepotism and corruption, intensified by his father, President Joe Biden, pardoning him in December for any offenses since January 2014. This pardon, in itself, has sparked debate and scrutiny, feeding into the complex timeline that Shapley and Ziegler navigated.
As they step into their new roles, the promise of reform within the IRS and the enforcement of stricter protocols against interference underscores a strategic shift likely to influence the agency's trajectory for years. Their story not only reflects personal vindication but also marks a crucial evolution in how whistleblowers might influence public policy and agency operations moving forward.