Update from today’s hearing:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/irs-whistleblowers-lash-federal-officials-211028325.html
Ziegler, a 13-year IRS veteran, was the main IRS case agent on the case and supervised by Shapley. He had been anonymous until Wednesday's hearing.
During his opening statement, Ziegler emphasized that he is a gay man and a registered Democrat who has been accused of betraying his party. He compared testifying to the day he came out as a member of the LGBTQ community.
"I am an example to other LGBTQ people out there who are questioning doing the right thing at the potential costs to themselves and others," he said. "We should always do the right thing no matter how painful the process might be."
Ziegler alleged David Weiss, the U.S. Attorney for Delaware, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, previously agreed certain felony charges against Hunter Biden were warranted.
But he said other Justice Department officials believed no jury would convict him given given his drug addiction and the death of his brother, Beau Biden.
Hunter Biden improperly claimed business deductions for a range of personal expenses, Zeigler said, from his children's college tuition to stays for his drug dealer at a Hollywood hotel. In written testimony, he said he was denied a request to interview Hunter Biden’s adult children, alleging prosecutors said that would "get us into hot water."
"I do not want my colleagues at the IRS, FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies to go through my frustrating journey," Zeigler said…
…Throughout the hearing, Democratic lawmakers looked to poke holes in the two agent's testimony and the GOP's assertion about the investigation.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., pointed out how Joe Biden never replaced Weiss, a Trump appointee, and he has stayed out of the investigation into his son.
"Now, can you imagine Donald Trump saying nothing about a witch hunt or not trying to quash the prosecution if it were his son being prosecuted?" he said.
Other Democratic lawmakers grilled the two IRS agents and pointed out how claims of delays during the investigation happened before Biden was ever president.
Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the oversight panel, added that no concrete evidence was presented that Hunter Biden was given preferential treatment, and that the two whistleblowers are simply expressing their disagreement with the decision to accept a plea.
"We'll hear about how they disagreed on investigative steps and what criminal charges to bring on normal stuff in government investigations that doesn't usually lead to a congressional hearing," he said.
"But one thing you will not hear today is any evidence of wrongdoing, by President Joe Biden or his administration.