Hunter Biden Sues IRS Over Privacy Violation

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Facts

  • On Monday, Hunter Biden, son of Pres. Joe Biden, sued the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), alleging that the agency illegally released his confidential tax return information to the media.1
  • The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Washington DC, does not name Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler — the former agents who turned whistleblowers — as defendants, but it’s focused on comments they made on television after testifying before Congress.2
  • Hunter Biden alleges he is “the victim” of an effort by Shapley, Ziegler, and their legal teams to embarrass him by disclosing “confidential information about a private citizen's tax matters.”3
  • Hunter Biden, who is facing criminal charges related to nonpayment of taxes and illegally purchasing a gun as a result of the federal investigation in question, is seeking $1K in damages for each unauthorized disclosure of his tax information as well as costs and attorney fees.4
  • The IRS declined comment about the suit, but lawyers for Shapley called it 'frivolous' in a statement.3
  • In the spring, Shapley and Zielger brought concerns about favoritism and the alleged slow pace of the years-long investigation of the president’s son to the House Ways and Means Committee, and subsequently granted media interviews on the issue.3

Sources: 1NPR Online News, 2CNN, 3CBS and 4Guardian.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Washington Post. Hunter Biden is fighting back against those accusing him of crimes while attempting to tie his father to fabricated wrongdoings. Although he’s a public figure, Hunter Biden still has a right to privacy that neither whistleblowers from the IRS nor Congress have a right to violate — especially if they’re going to spread misinformation about him for political gains.
  • Republican narrative, as provided by Red State. This lawsuit is a brazen attack on IRS whistleblowers who have come forward to show how political interference has obstructed the Hunter Biden investigation. The president’s son continues to act as though he’s above the law rather than being accountable for his actions.

Predictions