Top House Republican demands IRS briefing after alleged whistleblower retaliation

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith is demanding that IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel brief Congress after his agency allegedly retaliated against a whistleblower.

The anonymous IRS whistleblower led the team probing Hunter Biden's taxes, but he and his entire team were removed from the investigation after he told Congress and the Justice Department inspector general that there is evidence of political interference in the probe of the first son. The whistleblower's attorneys said Monday that the removal was an act of retaliation and possible obstruction of Congress.

"These allegations are extremely serious. Such retaliation not only discourages whistleblowers from coming forward to Congress but can also constitute an illegal violation of statutory protections for whistleblowers," Smith, a Missouri Republican, wrote Tuesday in his letter to the IRC commissioner.

Werfel testified to Congress last month that "there will be no retaliation for anyone making an allegation or a call to a whistleblower hotline." However, less than three weeks later the IRS whistleblower's attorneys said he and his entire team were removed from the ongoing case.

"This information is incredibly concerning and deserves the immediate attention of the Committee and the agency. Given your testimony, I trust that you take this issue very seriously and will ensure that the Committee receives a briefing on this matter no later than 5pm on Thursday May 18, 2023," Smith also wrote.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.