Hunter Biden Case: Why Is the POTUS' Son Suing the IRS?
Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, has filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, alleging that IRS investigators violated his privacy rights by disclosing his taxes and the investigation into his conduct to Congress and the public, per the NY Times.
This legal action comes shortly after Hunter Biden was indicted by the Justice Department on separate charges related to purchasing a handgun in 2018.
The IRS lawsuit demonstrates his and his legal team's determination to defend against inquiries from congressional Republicans, even as he faces potential prosecution on tax-related charges during his father's re-election campaign.
The lawsuit, filed in Federal District Court in Washington, asserts that IRS investigators breached the agency's rules on taxpayer privacy by making public statements to the media that disclosed confidential information about Hunter Biden's tax matters.
It alleges that this disclosure aimed to embarrass him as a private citizen.
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Hunter Biden IRS Lawsuit
This legal move is the latest in a series of legal actions by Hunter Biden as a federal investigation into his activities unfolds amid a highly politicized environment.
It includes an impeachment inquiry targeting President Joe Biden, with efforts to connect him to his son's business dealings.
The lawsuit emphasizes that Hunter Biden, as the son of the President of the United States, has the same responsibilities and rights as any other American citizen, AP reports.
It seeks to hold the IRS accountable for ensuring that he abides by his tax responsibilities and protecting his privacy rights.
The Hunter Biden IRS lawsuit also requests damages of $1,000 for every unauthorized disclosure of his personal information.
Two IRS supervisory special agents, Greg Shapley and Joe Ziegler, had previously testified before Congress, claiming a pattern of "slow-walking investigative steps" into Hunter Biden's case and alleging that the prosecutor overseeing the investigation did not have full authority to bring charges in other jurisdictions.
These claims were denied by Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss and the Justice Department.
The lawyers representing Shapley and Ziegler have expressed their views on the lawsuit, with one characterizing it as a "frivolous smear" and the other stating that they will continue to speak out about what they perceive as "special treatment" for Hunter Biden in the handling of the case.
Whistleblowers 'Fell on the Wrong Side,' Says a Lawyer
Legal expert Kel McClanahan, who has extensive experience representing government whistleblowers, believe that Hunter Biden has a strong case in his lawsuit against the IRS, particularly because IRS investigators Greg Shapley and Joe Ziegler provided detailed information about Biden's taxes to media outlets, POLITICO noted.
However, there is concern that the outcome of this case may have broader implications for future whistleblowers.
McClanahan acknowledges that this case could potentially be used to undermine or discourage future whistleblowers.
He suggests that it should serve as an opportunity for the court to differentiate between responsible and irresponsible whistleblowing.
"These guys fell on the wrong side of that," he said.
Hunter Biden's legal actions, including his lawsuit against the IRS, reflect a more assertive legal stance coinciding with his indictment on gun-related charges.
He has also taken legal action against a former Trump White House official who was involved in disseminating purported contents from his laptop.
Hunter Biden's legal team has also communicated with Republican lawmakers regarding their interactions with Justice Department officials, accusing them of pressuring federal authorities to pursue gun charges against him.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
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