Staff Reports
IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler are being promoted into key positions within the Trump administration’s Treasury Department after their courageous whistleblowing on the IRS’s inexplicable soft spot for Hunter Biden. It’s about time the government showed some appreciation for truth-tellers instead of squashing their efforts like bugs under a boot.
These two agents were at the forefront of investigating Hunter’s questionable tax practices, but they faced a wall of obstruction when David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware, effectively hit the brakes on the investigation as the 2020 election drew closer. Not surprisingly, there’s nothing like a swift ‘political favor’ to skew the scales of justice, especially when the president’s son is involved. As if the storm clouds over the IRS weren’t gray enough, Biden’s pardon of Hunter—a license to avoid justice for misconduct dating back to 2014—fully confirmed Shapley and Ziegler’s allegations of political favoritism.
After their complaints were met with retaliation from IRS superiors—think demotions and promotions withheld—it became evident that the agency was more focused on protecting its own than upholding the law. Fortunately, the House Oversight Committee and the Senate’s Chuck Grassley took notice, ensuring that these brave agents didn’t suffer silently.
Two Hunter Biden Whistleblowers Promoted to Top Trump Administration Positions: “These two gentlemen are going to form the basis for our investigation,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. https://t.co/zp69DCQ4CW pic.twitter.com/A0IrDEDEdo
— The Western Journal (@WestJournalism) March 18, 2025
In a recent news release, Grassley celebrated the promotions of Shapley and Ziegler, staying true to his reputation as a champion of accountability. He highlighted the need for a change in the culture that punishes those who dare to speak the truth, contrasting it sharply with the Biden administration’s treatment of whistleblowers. It appears Grassley has no love lost for the way the current administration operates. While the IRS might as well be running a cozy little club for political elites, Grassley is advocating for a resurgence of transparency that puts regular Americans first.
At the helm is Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who’s making it clear that the culture of secrecy and preference for powerful connections stops now. Promoting the former IRS agents isn’t just about filling positions; it’s about sending a message that the IRS will be held accountable for its actions, regardless of family ties to powerful politicians. Bessent is insisting that the new recruits aren’t merely figureheads. Instead, they’re charged with exposing the unacceptable behavior that allowed Hunter Biden’s tax drama to spiral into the spectacle it became.
In what sounds like a return to law and order, Shapley will step in as senior deputy for investigations and enforcement, while Ziegler is positioned as a senior adviser on IRS reform. These roles are designed to dig deeper into the murky waters of IRS operations and ensure that favoritism becomes the subject of history books rather than a recurring theme in American governance. Ultimately, this move signals a turning tide in the fight for accountability, leaving the public hopeful that no one is above the law—no matter how closely related they are to the Oval Office.
