Hunter Biden filed a lawsuit against the IRS on Monday, claiming the agency violated his privacy rights when disclosing his tax details. The suit argues that previous IRS officers overstepped their boundaries by discussing Hunter Biden’s tax affairs in congressional testimonies and to the media.
Although the legal action cites two ex-IRS personnel, they are not named as defendants. The lawsuit emphasizes that Biden should be treated with the same rights as any other U.S. citizen. “No entity or individual from the government should infringe upon his rights based on his identity,” it states.
The lawsuit further mentions two IRS agents, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, claiming they and their legal teams deliberately violated the tax code’s Section 6103, aiming to tarnish Biden’s reputation.
However, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability defended the whistleblowers, praising their dedication and integrity during their long service at the IRS. While handling the Hunter Biden investigation, they reportedly observed a decline in ethical norms and a misuse of authority.
In another development, Hunter Biden recently took legal action against an aide of ex-President Trump, accusing him of tampering with data on Biden’s laptop.
Moreover, Hunter Biden faces felony charges related to firearm possession in Delaware. He previously entered a plea of not guilty to two tax-related misdemeanors, which fell through due to concerns raised by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, leading to disagreements between Biden’s lawyers and the DOJ.
Shapley’s attorneys responded to the lawsuit against the IRS, dismissing it as a diversion tactic from Hunter Biden’s legal troubles. They emphasized that the Delaware federal judge had previously rejected similar allegations. The statement from Shapley’s team also noted that they had only revealed taxpayer information as authorized whistleblowers and that Shapley was within his rights to discuss information once it became public through congressional proceedings.
Biden’s legal team is preparing to contest the accusations, potentially leading to a significant trial.
A recently lodged civil lawsuit in Washington claims that there were inappropriate revelations concerning the particular tax years under scrutiny, deductions, and claims about responsibility.
Last month, Weiss obtained the special counsel status, providing extensive powers to probe and present his conclusions. His legal team has hinted that they might bring forth additional tax-related charges in either Washington or California.
