IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler have filed a defamation lawsuit in Washington, D.C. against Hunter Biden's attorney, alleging damage to their reputations and careers due to false accusations.
Just The News confirmed the news that Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, two IRS agents, have taken legal action against Abbe Lowell, the defense attorney for Hunter Biden, by filing a defamation lawsuit.
The agents, who had previously exposed what they believed to be favorable treatment in Hunter Biden's tax case, announced their lawsuit on a recent Friday night, citing defamation through false accusations by Lowell.
Lowell, who holds significant esteem in the legal field, is accused by Shapley and Ziegler of damaging their reputations by falsely claiming they breached grand jury secrecy and taxpayer confidentiality laws.
These accusations from Lowell were directed to various congressional committees, leading to substantial professional and personal repercussions for the whistleblowers.
Critically, Shapley and Ziegler’s decision to seek a jury trial in the nation's capital stems from their allegations that Lowell's claims were not only false but were particularly damaging given his prominence as a lawyer often sought after in high-profile government investigation defenses. This has put the IRS agents in an unfavorable light, contradicting their claims of acting out of duty and integrity.
According to the legal complaint filed by the duo with the assistance of defamation lawyer Mitchell Landsberg of Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, and Schreck, the irony of such accusations from a well-known legal figure is profound and malicious. The plaintiffs contend that these false accusations have spiraled into significant personal and professional harm.
The background of Shapley and Ziegler includes notable careers as special agents in the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.
Their lawsuit emphasizes that they acted with honor in bringing forward evidence of undue influences and political motivations allegedly affecting the tax investigation related to Hunter Biden.
The lawsuit is currently underway in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The defamation claim specifies that the controversy involves an amount exceeding $75,000, highlighting the alleged damages the plaintiffs feel they have endured due to Lowell's accusations.
Ziegler and Shapley claim their careers have been tainted by Lowell's detrimental statements. The accusations, they say, cast an unwarranted shadow over their longstanding dedication to law enforcement and justice, contradicting their professional ethos and commitment to unbiased investigation.
Their legal action in Washington seeks not only to clear their names but also to challenge what they perceive as misleading attacks by a high-profile attorney against dedicated public servants. Central to their argument is the assertion that they were operating under a mandate of integrity when they reported potential conflicts of interest and preferential treatment in the Hunter Biden case.
Reactions to this lawsuit have been mixed, with legal analysts highlighting its potential implications on public perceptions of justice and partisan influences in legal proceedings.
The whistleblowers maintain that their primary aim is to restore their reputations and ensure that their rights are protected against powerful adversaries in the legal realm.
In their filings, Shapley and Ziegler emphasize the importance of transparency and accountability in government proceedings, particularly when it comes to significant political and legal figures. They argue that their actions were entirely in line with these principles, contrary to the damaging portrayals suggested by Lowell’s accusations.
As the legal battle unfolds, this case serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by those who stand up to report possible wrongdoings within high-profile investigations.
Shapley and Ziegler hope their case will highlight the need for protections for whistleblowers against retaliation and baseless defamation – a sentiment that resonates amid broader discussions on government accountability and ethical legal conduct.