IRS Backs Off Threat to Demote Hunter Biden Whistleblower amid Congressional Pressure
After presenting Hunter Biden whistleblower Gary Shapley with an ultimatum: resign or be demoted, the IRS has agreed to hold off on taking action against him following an intervention by Republican lawmakers.
The office of special counsel, the executive agency tasked with handling whistleblower cases, wrote a letter to House Republicans, obtained by National Review, informing them that the IRS will be staying its ultimatum to either demote Shapley or have him resign from the agency.
“Regarding the October 29, 2024 Notice of Intent, we can now report that IRS agreed to temporarily stay the whistleblower’s response deadline and tenure expiration. As appropriate and consistent with the law and OSC’s policies, we will use all tools within our statutory authority to address allegations these whistleblowers bring to our office,” wrote acting principal deputy special counsel Karen Gorman.
The letter was sent Wednesday to Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R., Ky,) Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R.,Mo.), the leaders of the House GOP’s impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
“We’ve been informed the IRS has agreed to temporarily pause its latest threatening action against Gary Shapley. We won’t stop fighting for these brave whistleblowers, who exposed misconduct and politicization in the federal criminal investigation of Hunter Biden” the Oversight Committee wrote on X Wednesday night.
"Temporarily..."