Whistleblower X Claim Sends A Shockwave Through Capitol Hill
Investigators were surprisingly startled by the testimony before a congressional committee Wednesday that turned out to reveal the identity of whistleblower and IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley's unnamed collaborator—Whistleblower X—to be a gay Democrat married to a man.
Joseph Ziegler, a criminal investigator with the Internal Revenue Service and lead agent in the investigation into Hunter Biden, revealed himself before the House Oversight Committee as he testified against Hunter Biden’s alleged preferential treatment.
The bombshell announcement dashed speculation that Whistleblower X was a Republican or had any other political agenda.
Speaking to the committee, Ziegler—who has worked with the IRS since 2010—said he feared coming forward due to similar feelings he experienced when he publicly came out as a gay man.
“It was honestly one of the hardest things I ever had to go through, a contemplative scenario, so it would have been highly regrettable.”
The Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), investigated thousands of pages of Hunter Biden’s financial records, and Comer called the findings “astonishing.”
“We need to know whether Joe Biden is compromised by these schemes and if our national security is threatened,” Comer said.
Ziegler also testified that agents were told they were not allowed to ask questions about the President's adult grandchildren during the investigation.
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) spoke at the start of the hearing and reported his panel’s investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax records.
“The president only believes in making taxpayers pay their fair share if they don’t share his last name,” Smith said.
Smith then accused the Biden administration of leading a “vicious smear campaign” against the whistleblowers and their testimony.
“I urge any IRS employee watching today, if you know of misconduct, talk to the Ways and Means Committee so we can hold accountable those who are responsible,” Smith said.
Though Ziegler is a gay Democrat married to a man, Smith insisted the accusation was not about party lines but rather the fact “Americans should not have to accept two tiers of judgments—one if your last name is Biden and one for everybody else.”
The FBI agent before the Oversight Committee told Republicans that Joe Biden’s presidential transition team was tipped off the night before Hunter’s interview with investigators, noting that “people found out who didn't need to know.”
Democrats argued that the FBI and DOJ’s different accounts are not entirely unusual.
As the Oversight Committee continues their investigation into the Bidens’ alleged misconduct, all eyes are on Whistleblower X’s revelations and what they mean for the future of the Biden administration.