A former FBI agent, previously involved in the Hunter Biden investigation, has substantiated a significant claim made by whistleblower and IRS supervisory special agent Gary Shapley.
This retired FBI supervisory special agent, whose identity remains undisclosed, provided testimony during a closed-door session on July 17 to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The committee released a 65-page transcript of this testimony on Monday.
The ex-agent corroborated Shapley’s allegations that the Biden transition team had received advanced notice of the FBI’s plan to interview Hunter Biden. The former agent revealed that he had been informed on the evening prior to the scheduled interview date of December 8, 2020, that the Biden transition team had been alerted.
“I found the testimony of supervisor No. 2 to be accurate, and I agree with him. I believe I was, you know, and in hindsight, I am certain that I was upset when I found out,” the former agent conveyed to lawmakers.
In addition to notifying the transition team, the Secret Service, responsible for Hunter Biden’s protection at that time, was also informed. The former agent indicated that while he believed the Secret Service would be informed on the morning of the interview, notifying them in advance about the FBI’s intention to interview Hunter was deemed appropriate.
When questioned about the reason for his dissatisfaction, the former agent clarified: “I felt that it was individuals who did not need to be aware of our intentions.” However, the former agent could not recall the specific individuals on the Biden transition team who were informed.
The former agent recounted that he and Shapley were subsequently instructed to await a phone call from Hunter Biden for the interview, but that call never materialized, and the interview did not occur.
Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, an IRS agent with over a decade of experience, who served as the lead case agent on the Hunter Biden investigation, testified before the House Oversight Committee in July. Both expressed concerns about the influence of politics on the investigation through the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Ziegler emphasized that his intention was to address systemic issues that have allowed misconduct to persist. His aim was to promote accountability and reform rather than assigning blame.