In a recent development, President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, has filed a lawsuit against the IRS over the release of his private tax information. Hunter Biden's attorneys argue that the IRS has acted as if the rights that apply to every other American citizen do not apply to him. Earlier this year, two IRS whistleblowers came forward to Congress, claiming that the Justice Department had impeded their investigation into Hunter Biden's alleged failure to pay federal taxes. It is worth noting that tax information is generally confidential, with criminal penalties for its release, but there are exceptions for certain situations, such as allowing congressional committees to obtain private tax information and make it public.
Republicans in Congress cited this exception when they voted to make the whistleblower testimony public. Meanwhile, IRS agents have continued to speak out in media interviews. Hunter Biden's lawsuit alleges that IRS agents have targeted and sought to embarrass him by disclosing confidential information about his tax matters. It is important to mention that Hunter Biden had planned to plead guilty to failing to pay taxes in 2017 and 2018, but a plea deal fell through due to disagreements over the scope of his immunity from further charges. He is currently facing charges for illegally purchasing a gun and could still be indicted on the tax charges.
This lawsuit is part of Hunter Biden's aggressive legal strategy, following other lawsuits against individuals who have publicized the contents of his personal laptop. Republicans have used the IRS whistleblower testimony to argue that the Justice Department has a double standard, favoring the current president's son while the former president faces multiple criminal indictments. The complaint claims that the whistleblowers have gratuitously publicized Hunter Biden's tax information outside of the congressional disclosure process, providing detailed allegations regarding specific tax years and deductions that could only be known through a review of the physical tax returns themselves.
Recent testimony from FBI officials has cast doubt on some of the IRS whistleblower claims, including the assertion that it was not up to the U.S. Attorney for Delaware to decide whether Hunter Biden could face charges outside of Delaware. The House Oversight Committee, which is leading the investigation into the Biden family, criticized the lawsuit, stating that it amounts to witness intimidation and that their investigation will continue despite these legal tactics.