Two IRS whistleblowers have filed a defamation lawsuit against Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, alleging that the attorney made false and malicious statements that damaged their careers. The lawsuit was filed on Friday night by IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler in Washington, D.C., seeking a jury trial and over $75,000 in damages.
Just The News reported that the lawsuit stems from Lowell’s alleged accusations that the agents violated grand jury secrecy rules and committed felonies during their involvement in the Hunter Biden tax investigation.
Shapley and Ziegler, who were part of the IRS Criminal Investigation division, had previously raised concerns about the handling of the Hunter Biden tax investigation.
The agents had provided testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee, claiming that the Justice Department had given preferential treatment to Hunter Biden during the investigation.
Their whistleblower disclosures thrust them into the public eye, and now they are seeking to clear their names from the accusations that Lowell made.
The lawsuit claims that Lowell acted with malice when he accused the whistleblowers of breaking grand jury secrecy rules and violating the taxpayer confidentiality statute. Shapley and Ziegler assert that these accusations have caused significant harm to their reputations and careers.
According to the legal complaint, Lowell sent letters containing these accusations to multiple Congressional committees. The whistleblowers allege that these letters further spread false claims that they had committed criminal acts, including violating federal secrecy laws.
"Shapley and Ziegler, both experienced and dedicated special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, bring this action to vindicate their reputations for the incredible and malicious harm they have suffered at the hands of Abbe Lowell," the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit goes on to accuse Lowell of leaking false allegations to third parties, including members of the media, further exacerbating the damage to the whistleblowers' reputations. Specifically, the lawsuit asserts that Lowell spread allegations that Shapley and Ziegler committed felonies during their involvement in the Hunter Biden investigation.
The whistleblowers argue that these actions by Lowell were not only baseless but were also intentionally harmful. They are seeking financial compensation for the negative impact these allegations have had on their professional lives, claiming that their careers as IRS agents have been irreparably damaged.
In the lawsuit, Shapley and Ziegler are seeking over $75,000 in damages, stating that the reputational harm they have suffered warrants compensation. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, where Lowell resides. The IRS agents, however, hail from different states.
The whistleblowers are being represented by defamation attorney Mitchell Landsberg from the law firm Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, and Schreck. Landsberg is known for handling high-profile defamation cases, and his involvement signals the seriousness with which Shapley and Ziegler are pursuing their claims.
At the core of the lawsuit is the claim that Lowell knowingly made false accusations about Shapley and Ziegler's conduct during their investigation of Hunter Biden’s taxes. The whistleblowers assert that these accusations are entirely without merit and were made with the intent to damage their careers.
Lowell’s alleged actions, according to the lawsuit, not only harmed the whistleblowers professionally but also opened them up to public scrutiny and potential criminal investigation. The lawsuit emphasizes the irony of a seasoned lawyer like Lowell accusing IRS special agents of criminal activity without substantial evidence to back up his claims.
"It is particularly ironic and damaging that a well-known attorney like Lowell ... has chosen to falsely accuse these special agents of criminal behavior," the lawsuit states.
Shapley and Ziegler's decision to file the defamation lawsuit marks a new chapter in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Hunter Biden investigation. While their original whistleblower disclosures were focused on the handling of the investigation, this lawsuit shifts the focus to their personal reputations and the professional damage they claim to have suffered as a result of Lowell’s statements.
As the case unfolds in the District Court for the District of Columbia, it will likely attract significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the parties involved. The lawsuit underscores the continued tension surrounding the Hunter Biden tax investigation and the role that key figures, like Lowell, played in its aftermath.
Shapley and Ziegler maintain that they acted appropriately during the investigation and that Lowell’s accusations were designed to undermine their credibility. They are now seeking to hold Lowell accountable for what they describe as a deliberate effort to damage their careers.
If successful, the lawsuit could not only provide financial compensation for the whistleblowers but also restore some of the reputational damage they allege to have suffered. On the other hand, if the court finds in Lowell's favor, it could set a precedent for how whistleblowers and those involved in politically sensitive investigations are treated in the media and public discourse.
Both Shapley and Ziegler have emphasized their long-standing careers with the IRS and their dedication to the investigation. They argue that the malicious claims made against them by Lowell have unjustly tarnished their reputations, and they are determined to see the matter resolved in court.
As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how this lawsuit will impact the broader narrative surrounding the Hunter Biden investigation and the whistleblowers' role within it. The case serves as a reminder of the high stakes involved in politically charged investigations and the potential consequences for those who find themselves at the center of controversy.
