IRS agent who investigated Hunter Biden expected to be named IRS acting chief

Yahoo! News - Apr 16th, 2025
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Gary Shapley, an IRS whistleblower who testified about the Hunter Biden tax investigations, is expected to be promoted to the role of acting IRS commissioner. Shapley, who previously claimed retaliation for his involvement in the case, will take on this interim position as the former congressman Billy Long awaits confirmation to lead the agency permanently. This move follows Shapley's earlier promotion to Deputy Chief of IRS Criminal Investigations. The IRS has not commented on this development, which was initially reported by CNN.

The context of Shapley's promotion is tied to the controversial investigations into Hunter Biden's taxes, which ended with President Joe Biden pardoning his son. Shapley and fellow whistleblower Joseph Ziegler alleged that the Justice Department delayed investigative actions before the 2020 presidential election. The decision to promote Shapley raises questions about the IRS's internal dynamics and the political implications surrounding the Hunter Biden case, highlighting ongoing tensions between the IRS, the Justice Department, and political figures involved in the investigation.

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RATING

5.8
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and relevant examination of issues surrounding IRS leadership changes and the Hunter Biden investigation, topics of considerable public interest. It effectively captures the potential controversy and impact of these developments, although its reliance on unnamed sources and lack of balanced perspectives limit its overall accuracy and source quality. While the article is clear and engaging, offering a straightforward narrative, it would benefit from additional context and verification to enhance transparency and reliability. Despite these limitations, the article succeeds in highlighting significant issues of government accountability and whistleblower protection, contributing to ongoing public discourse.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The article presents several factual claims that are generally accurate but require further verification. For instance, the claim about Gary Shapley's expected promotion to IRS acting commissioner aligns with reports from multiple sources, although official confirmation from the IRS is lacking. The article correctly states Shapley's previous promotion to Deputy Chief of IRS Criminal Investigations, which is supported by past reports. However, the claim that Hunter Biden was pardoned by Joe Biden is misleading; while Hunter Biden faced legal issues, there is no verified record of a pardon, which significantly affects the story's accuracy. The article also mentions Melanie Krause's resignation due to a deal involving immigrants' tax data, a claim that lacks clear evidence or official statements to support it.

6
Balance

The article primarily presents one perspective, focusing on the claims made by IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler. It lacks input from other stakeholders, such as the Justice Department or representatives from Hunter Biden's legal team, which would provide a more balanced view. The narrative leans towards the whistleblowers' allegations without fully exploring counterarguments or additional context from other involved parties. This could lead to a perception of bias, as the article does not sufficiently address the complexities of the legal and political issues surrounding the Hunter Biden investigation.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and presentation, making it accessible to readers. It follows a logical structure, introducing the key players and outlining the main events. However, some complex legal and political issues are mentioned without sufficient explanation, which could confuse readers unfamiliar with the background. The narrative could benefit from additional context or definitions of terms like 'slow-walking investigative steps' to ensure comprehension for a broader audience.

5
Source quality

The article cites unnamed sources familiar with the IRS plans and references CNN as the original reporter of Shapley's new role. However, the lack of named, authoritative sources and the absence of direct quotes from the IRS or other official entities weaken the source quality. While the Associated Press is a reputable organization, the reliance on anonymous sources for key claims diminishes the overall reliability. The article would benefit from more direct attributions or statements from involved parties to enhance its credibility.

4
Transparency

The article provides limited transparency regarding the basis for its claims. It does not disclose the methodology used to verify the information or the potential conflicts of interest of the sources. The reliance on unnamed sources without explaining their credibility or connection to the IRS reduces transparency. Additionally, the article does not clarify the context or implications of the claims made, such as the legal and political ramifications of the alleged IRS promotions and resignations.

Sources

  1. https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2023/12/07/whistleblowers-testify-clear-links-between-joe-biden-and-hunter-bidens-business-dealings/
  2. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/irs-agents-hunter-biden-promoted-by-trump-administration/
  3. https://www.seattlepi.com/news/politics/article/irs-agent-who-investigated-hunter-biden-expected-20277991.php
  4. https://abcnews.go.com/US/hunter-biden-whistleblowers-promoted-irs/story?id=119912378
  5. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/18/whistleblowers-to-probe-hunter-biden-tax-case-00235146