Whistleblowers TURN THE TABLES on Hunter Biden Attorney

IRS whistleblowers sue Hunter Biden’s attorney for $20 million, accusing him of defamation and retaliation.

At a Glance

  • Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler file a $20 million defamation lawsuit against Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell
  • Whistleblowers claim Lowell falsely accused them of leaking confidential information and committing crimes
  • The lawsuit alleges Lowell’s statements caused significant harm to their reputations
  • Shapley and Ziegler seek to vindicate their integrity in exposing alleged preferential treatment in the Hunter Biden investigation

Whistleblowers Fight Back Against Alleged Defamation

Two IRS whistleblowers have taken aim at the President’s son’s attorney. Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler have filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against Abbe Lowell, accusing him of making false and damaging statements about their conduct during the Hunter Biden tax investigation. This legal action marks a significant escalation in the battle over the handling of the high-profile case and raises important questions about the protection of whistleblowers who come forward with allegations of wrongdoing.

The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., alleges that Lowell retaliated against Shapley and Ziegler by making defamatory statements to the media, accusing them of illegally leaking Hunter Biden’s tax information. These accusations, according to the whistleblowers, have caused significant harm to their reputations and careers. The legal complaint asserts that Lowell’s actions were malicious and intended to discredit the investigators who had raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and preferential treatment in the Hunter Biden probe.

Accusations of Criminal Conduct and Confidentiality Breaches

At the heart of the lawsuit are Lowell’s public statements accusing Shapley and Ziegler of criminal conduct. The whistleblowers vehemently deny these allegations, stating that they never disclosed any confidential information that wasn’t already in the public domain. The legal filing quotes Lowell as having “falsely accused the Plaintiffs of violating grand jury secrecy rules and the taxpayer confidentiality statute.” These accusations, coming from a lawyer of Lowell’s stature, carry significant weight and potential for reputational damage.

The whistleblowers argue that Lowell’s statements were not only false but also made with “clear malice.” They claim that these allegations have severely harmed their professional and personal reputations. The lawsuit seeks to “vindicate their reputations for the incredible and malicious harm they have suffered.” This legal action underscores the high stakes involved for whistleblowers who step forward to report potential wrongdoing, especially in politically charged cases.

Implications for Whistleblower Protection and Accountability

The case brings to the forefront critical issues surrounding whistleblower protection and the potential chilling effect that retaliatory actions can have on those who come forward with information about potential misconduct. Shapley and Ziegler argue that their actions were motivated by a desire to expose what they believed to be conflicts of interest and preferential treatment in the Hunter Biden investigation. Their lawsuit states, “As whistleblowers, Shapley and Ziegler acted with honor and integrity in exposing conflicts of interest, preferential treatment, and political motivations that they reasonably believed were interfering with the criminal tax investigation of Hunter Biden.”

This lawsuit serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by whistleblowers and the importance of protecting those who come forward with information in the public interest. It also raises questions about the tactics used by high-profile defense attorneys and the potential consequences of their public statements. As this case unfolds, it will likely have significant implications for how whistleblowers are treated and the boundaries of acceptable conduct for attorneys representing clients in high-stakes investigations.

The Broader Context of the Hunter Biden Investigation

This defamation lawsuit is set against the backdrop of the ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax affairs and business dealings. The collapse of a previous plea deal and Hunter Biden’s recent guilty plea to all felony tax crimes have added layers of complexity to an already contentious case. The whistleblowers’ allegations of political influence affecting prosecutorial decisions have fueled debates about the integrity of the investigation and the application of justice.

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