Hunter Biden abruptly drops lawsuit against IRS whistleblowers who accused the Justice Department of interfering in his investigation, leaving many questions unanswered about his true motives.
Key Takeaways
- Hunter Biden dismissed his lawsuit against IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler without stating a reason
- The lawsuit was filed after the agents testified to Congress about alleged preferential treatment in Biden’s investigation
- The dismissal was filed with prejudice, meaning Hunter Biden cannot refile the case in the future
- The whistleblowers claim the dismissal validates their allegations and proves the lawsuit was meant to intimidate them
- Former President Joe Biden had issued a blanket pardon to Hunter for any crimes since 2014 before leaving office
Lawsuit Against Whistleblowers Suddenly Terminated
Hunter Biden has unexpectedly withdrawn his lawsuit against IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who had publicly alleged political interference in the tax investigation against the president’s son. The dismissal was filed with prejudice, meaning Hunter Biden cannot refile the case in the future. The move comes months after Hunter had accused the two IRS whistleblowers of illegally disclosing his confidential tax information to media outlets in a deliberate attempt to embarrass him. The court filing offered no explanation for the sudden dismissal, which followed a motion by Biden’s attorneys to withdraw from representing him in the case.
“It’s always been clear that the lawsuit was an attempt to intimidate us. However, we were always motivated by doing the right thing, defending our work, and honoring our duty to the American people. Intimidation and retaliation were never going to work. We truly wanted our day in court to provide the complete story, but it appears Mr. Biden was afraid to actually fight this case in a court of law after all. His voluntary dismissal of the case tells you everything you need to know about who was right and who was wrong,” said Shapley and Ziegler.
Hunter Biden abruptly drops lawsuit against IRS — a move the whistleblowers say shows ‘everything you need to know’ https://t.co/RwoK0EPsBr #NYP
— The Report App (@TheReportApp) May 1, 2025
Whistleblowers’ Allegations of Political Interference
Shapley and Ziegler had testified before the House Oversight Committee that their investigation into Hunter Biden’s financial affairs faced significant limitations and political interference. The agents raised concerns about the handling of the Biden investigation with their superiors, the Office of Special Counsel, and eventually Congress. Shapley publicly accused the Justice Department of deliberately delaying and impeding the investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax matters. The two men claimed they faced retaliation for exposing what they described as government weaponization to protect a politically connected individual.
“Hunter Biden brought this lawsuit against two honorable federal agents in retaliation for blowing the whistle on the preferential treatment he was given,” the lawyers said in a statement.
Hunter Biden’s Legal Troubles and Presidential Pardon
Hunter Biden’s tax troubles became a significant legal and political issue after a plea deal fell apart in July 2023. The agreement would have provided him immunity in exchange for pleading guilty to misdemeanor tax counts. After the deal collapsed, the Department of Justice charged Biden with tax fraud, alleging he owed $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019. In September 2024, Hunter Biden ultimately pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges, admitting to the tax evasion allegations. He later repaid the taxes owed.
The legal saga appeared to conclude when former President Joe Biden, before leaving office, granted Hunter a sweeping pardon for all crimes committed or potentially committed over the past decade. This controversial pardon extended not only to Hunter but also to five other Biden family members. President Trump temporarily appointed Shapley as acting IRS commissioner after taking office, though he was later replaced. The dismissal of Hunter’s lawsuit against the whistleblowers marks the latest chapter in a controversy that has spanned multiple administrations.
Sources:
- Hunter Biden abruptly drops lawsuit against IRS — a move whistleblowers say shows ‘everything you need to know’
- Hunter Biden drops lawsuit against IRS, which whistleblowers say ‘tells you everything you need to know’
- ‘Tells You Everything You Need To Know’: Hunter Biden Drops Lawsuit Against IRS | The Daily Caller
