'Wrong choice': IRS whistleblower's legal team blasts Weiss's special counsel appointment

The legal team representing IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley on Friday slammed Attorney General Merrick Garland's decision to appoint U.S. Attorney David Weiss as a special counsel to investigate first son Hunter Biden and contended that the appointment validated his testimony to Congress.

"The courageous IRS whistleblowers who risked their careers to inform the American people about problems with the Hunter Biden investigation have been subjected to retaliation and their credibility has been repeatedly attacked," they stated. "Yet today's appointment of a special counsel in the Hunter Biden investigation confirms their testimony that such an appointment was necessary to overcome roadblocks accompanying charges against the President's son by Biden political appointees in D.C. and California."

"Clearly, Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss did not actually have all the authority he needed before this appointment, contrary to his and Attorney General Garland's repeated claims to Congress," they continued.

Shapley, along with Special Agent Joseph Ziegler, testified to political interference by the Department of Justice in Weiss's case against the first son. In one instance, they asserted that the D.C. U.S. Attorney blocked Weiss from bringing charges in his jurisdiction, prompting Weiss to ask Garland for special counsel status, which the attorney general rejected. They have further contrasted that development with statements from Garland and Weiss contending that he enjoyed the necessary authorities to fully pursue charges against the younger Biden.

While Shapley's attorneys took the Friday announcement of Weiss's appointment as a vindication, they nonetheless asserted that it would not be sufficient to remedy the prior issues in the case.

"Nevertheless, Weiss is the wrong choice to reassure the American people that the probe will now be independent and thorough," they insisted. "As the IRS whistleblowers have testified, it was under his leadership over the last five years that the President's son was given preferential treatment, and an unprecedented plea agreement with the President's son was almost implemented before a federal judge scrutinized it."

"The appointment at this late date raises more serious questions about whether Congress and the American people were intentionally misled.  Sworn testimony and multiple letters to Capitol Hill claiming that Mr. Weiss already had all the authority he needed are now contradicted by the Department’s public actions, as well as Mr. Weiss's private admission that he didn't have the final say," they continued.

"The Inspectors General and Congress should continue to press for answers about the issues raised by the IRS whistleblowers, including the preferential treatment of the President's son and misleading Congress about the scope of Mr. Weiss's authority," they urged. "All of the relevant facts occurred before today's appointment, and special counsel status does not immunize Mr. Weiss's office from public scrutiny and accountability." 

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.