IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler are suing Hunter Biden’s attorney for $20 million, accusing him of defamation and retaliation.
At a Glance
- IRS whistleblowers have filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against Hunter Biden’s attorney.
- Attorney Abbe Lowell allegedly made defamatory statements, claiming whistleblowers leaked private tax information.
- Whistleblowers maintain they acted with honor and integrity in disclosing preferential treatment in the tax investigation.
- The lawsuit seeks to vindicate their reputations, accusing Lowell of retaliation and malicious harm.
Whistleblowers Allege Defamation and Retaliation
IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler have filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell. The lawsuit, rooted in a contentious tax investigation involving President Joe Biden’s son, claims that Lowell made defamatory statements to the media, accusing the whistleblowers of illegally leaking Hunter Biden’s private tax information and grand jury materials.
The whistleblowers, Shapley and Ziegler, assert that Lowell’s accusations caused severe damage to their reputations and professional lives. They argue that they disclosed information to Congress in a professional manner without making any public statements. The lawsuit claims Lowell’s actions were done with “clear malice” and were part of an effort to retaliate against them for their honesty and integrity in handling the investigation into Hunter Biden.
IRS whistleblowers sue Hunter Biden’s attorney for $20M in defamation case: 'Clear malice' https://t.co/XvIGCXnDHH
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Key Allegations Against Lowell
Key allegations in the lawsuit include claims that Lowell falsely accused Shapley and Ziegler of disclosing grand jury materials, and that he released communications to the press suggesting they had committed crimes. According to the whistleblowers, these actions were intended to undermine their credibility and silence their efforts to expose preferential treatment in the Hunter Biden investigation.
Context and Implications
This lawsuit follows Hunter Biden’s guilty plea to federal tax charges, which corroborates concerns raised by Shapley and Ziegler regarding preferential treatment during the investigation. The whistleblowers highlighted several roadblocks and unnecessary approvals that they claim slowed down the investigation. They argue that their disclosures to Congress were aimed at bringing transparency and accountability to a politically sensitive case.
The backdrop of this lawsuit also touches on wider political issues, including the influence of political bias in the judicial system, and accusations of election interference. For example, an incident involving the distribution of an anti-Trump comic book in Pennsylvania high schools raised concerns about the misuse of educational platforms.
Sources:
- IRS Whistleblowers File $20 Million Defamation Lawsuit against Hunter Biden Attorney
- IRS whistleblowers file $20M defamation lawsuit against Hunter Biden’s attorney: ‘Incredible and malicious harm’
- IRS whistleblowers sue Hunter Biden’s attorney for $20M in defamation case: ‘Clear malice’
- Lawyers for Hunter Biden plan to sue Fox News ‘imminently’
- Second IRS whistleblower goes public at House Oversight hearing about Hunter Biden probe