By Charles Switzer
10:19am PDT, Apr 17, 2025
Gary Shapley's Appointment as Acting IRS Commissioner
A reported whistleblower,
Gary Shapley, who has accused the Justice Department of covering up the
Hunter Biden tax investigation, is set to be promoted by President
Donald Trump to the role of acting commissioner of the IRS, the
New York Post shared.
"Congratulations to my friend Gary Shapley on being named Acting Commissioner of the IRS," Shapley's lawyer,
Tristan Leavitt, wrote on X on Tuesday, April 15, in response to the news.
Leavitt added, "Couldn't think of a single better person, both as a dedicated leader and as a whistleblower who has seen the agency's weaknesses and had the courage to speak up about them."
Here's everything to know about Shapley's new role.
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Shapley's Career and New Role at the IRS
Gary Shapley, who was recently promoted to senior adviser to Treasury Secretary
Scott Bessent, will now replace
Melanie Krause as acting commissioner of the IRS.
A memo obtained by
The Wall Street Journal confirms that Shapley will hold the position until
Billy Long, Donald Trump's nominee for the permanent role, is confirmed by the Senate.
A Treasury Department spokesperson praised Shapley's extensive career, noting, "Gary is a long-tenured civil servant who has dedicated the last 15 years of his professional life to the IRS."
However, the spokesperson did not confirm the reports regarding Shapley's promotion.
Shapley's Reputation and Contributions to the IRS
The Treasury spokesperson continued, emphasizing Gary Shapley's integrity and dedication, "Gary has proven his honesty and devotion to enforcing the law without fear or favor, even at great cost to his own career."
The spokesperson also expressed confidence that Shapley would be an asset to the IRS, particularly in the ongoing efforts to rethink and reform the agency. Shapley's promotion comes on Tax Day, the annual deadline for income tax filings in the U.S.
Shapley and Ziegler's Role in the Hunter Biden Investigation
Gary Shapley, along with IRS special agent Joseph Ziegler, was removed from the Hunter Biden case in December 2022 after they raised concerns about obstruction and delays in the investigation.
They testified before Congress, alleging that the DOJ and Delaware US Attorney David Weiss were hindering their efforts.
They also claimed that Weiss' office restricted their access to critical files and blocked interviews with Biden family members.
Hunter Biden's Legal Troubles and Presidential Pardon
Following Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler's allegations, Hunter Biden was charged with several felonies and misdemeanors related to failing to pay over $1.4 million in taxes.
Hunter pleaded guilty to all charges in September 2024 and was
pardoned by his father that December.
