Gary Shapley, whistleblower IRS agent who investigated Hunter Biden, expected to be named agency’s acting chief

New York Post - Apr 16th, 2025
Open on New York Post

Gary Shapley, an IRS whistleblower who testified about the Hunter Biden tax investigations, is poised to become the acting commissioner of the IRS, according to sources. Shapley, who previously claimed retaliation for his cooperation in the investigation, was promoted in March to Deputy Chief of IRS Criminal Investigations. His upcoming interim appointment follows Melanie Krause's resignation over a controversial data-sharing deal with ICE. This appointment happens as Billy Long awaits confirmation as the permanent IRS commissioner after being nominated by former President Donald Trump.

The developments stem from Shapley's and fellow investigator Joseph Ziegler's removal from the Hunter Biden case in December 2022. They alleged that the Justice Department and former U.S. Attorney David Weiss delayed actions related to the case before the 2020 presidential election. The investigation concluded with President Joe Biden pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, who was facing trial for tax-related charges. This move reversed Biden's earlier promises not to leverage presidential powers for his family's benefit, raising questions about political influence and justice system integrity.

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RATING

6.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and relevant account of developments related to IRS leadership and the Hunter Biden investigations, which are of considerable public interest. It effectively outlines key events and allegations, although it relies heavily on unnamed sources for significant claims, affecting its accuracy and source quality. The story could benefit from greater balance by including perspectives from those accused of interference and more transparency regarding its sources. Despite these limitations, the article is clear and readable, with the potential to engage and provoke discussions among politically interested audiences. However, the lack of comprehensive sourcing and context may limit its impact and engagement beyond those already familiar with the topic.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The article generally aligns with known facts but includes several claims requiring verification. For instance, the claim that Gary Shapley is expected to be promoted to IRS acting commissioner is supported by two unnamed sources, which could be verified through official IRS announcements. The article accurately reports that Shapley and Joseph Ziegler testified about the Hunter Biden investigations, and their claims of retaliation are consistent with previous public statements. However, the assertion that Joe Biden pardoned his son needs verification, as there is no widely available evidence supporting this claim. Furthermore, the details about Melanie Krause's resignation and the nomination of Billy Long are plausible but require confirmation from official sources.

6
Balance

The article predominantly focuses on the perspectives of IRS whistleblowers and Republicans, potentially indicating a slight bias. While it highlights the alleged interference in the Hunter Biden investigation, it does not provide a counter-narrative or a response from those accused, such as the Justice Department or David Weiss. The lack of commentary from Democratic perspectives or Hunter Biden's legal team could lead to an imbalanced presentation of the issue. The article could benefit from including these viewpoints to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear and concise, presenting information in a straightforward manner. The structure is logical, with a clear progression from the whistleblowers' testimonies to the implications for IRS leadership. However, some sections could benefit from additional context, such as the specific details of the alleged 'slow-walking' of the investigation. The language is neutral and avoids sensationalism, but the lack of clarity in sourcing and context may affect readers' understanding of the full scope of the story.

5
Source quality

The story relies heavily on unnamed sources for key claims, such as Shapley's expected promotion and Krause's resignation, which affects the credibility of these assertions. While the article references public testimony and previous reports, the lack of named sources or official confirmation for new developments diminishes the reliability. The mention of CNN as a source for the news about Shapley's role adds some credibility, but the absence of direct quotes or official statements from the IRS or involved parties limits the overall source quality.

5
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of sourcing, as it relies on unnamed sources for significant claims, such as Shapley's promotion and Krause's resignation. It does not clarify the basis for these claims or provide information on how the sources are connected to the events. The article would benefit from greater disclosure of the methodology behind the reporting and any potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, it does not adequately explain the context of the whistleblowers' allegations or the broader implications of the IRS leadership changes.

Sources

  1. https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2023/12/07/whistleblowers-testify-clear-links-between-joe-biden-and-hunter-bidens-business-dealings/
  2. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/18/whistleblowers-to-probe-hunter-biden-tax-case-00235146
  3. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/irs-agents-hunter-biden-promoted-by-trump-administration/
  4. https://keyt.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2025/04/15/trump-to-name-hunter-biden-whistleblower-as-acting-irs-commissioner-sources-say/
  5. https://abcnews.go.com/US/hunter-biden-whistleblowers-promoted-irs/story?id=119912378