Joseph Ziegler

Dec 6, 2023

December 5, 2023, 8:56 p.m. ET WASHINGTON — Hunter Biden received a whopping $4.9 million from Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris over a three-year period, according to an IRS agent who investigated the president’s son for alleged tax evasion. The revelation means a substantial increase in the known amount Hunter, 53, received from his so-called ‘sugar brother’ after the men allegedly first met at a December campaign fundraiser 2019. IRS Agent Joseph Ziegler shared that eye-popping figure and additional documents with the House Ways and Means Committee in a follow-up appearance Tuesday as House Republicans move closer to an expected vote to authorize an impeachment inquiry against President Biden for his alleged role in the affair of his relatives. relations with foreigners. Previous reports indicated that Morris paid about $2 million in tax debts for Hunter and purchased some of his novice artwork. Morris’ motives for helping Hunter financially and the authenticity of their friendship are debated by Republicans. As part of his testimony Tuesday, Ziegler provided lawmakers with an email showing that as early as Feb. 7, 2020 — less than two months after they met — Morris was contacting accountants on Hunter’s behalf and warning them to work quickly to avoid “considerable risks personally”. and politically. » Ziegler, who investigated Hunter’s taxes for five years before being removed from the case this year, said Morris’ first son’s income – at least partly thought to be loans – resembled the practice of Hunter of trying to avoid paying taxes on other income by framing it as loans. Hunter Biden received a whopping $4.9 million from Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris over a three-year period, according to an IRS agent who investigated the president’s son for alleged tax fraud. Daniel William McKnight “Hunter appeared to be following a pattern of attempting to avoid paying taxes on the affected income. This began when Hunter failed to report Burisma’s (Ukrainian gas company) income in 2014 and allegedly falsely claimed it was a loan to him,” Ziegler said in his statement of claim. opening. “He once again attempted to claim that the millions in (Chinese) revenue earned from Hudson West III was a loan given to him, which was refuted by the evidence and was not authorized by his accountants tax. “This continued in 2020, 2021 and 2022, during which Hunter received approximately $4.9 million in payments for personal expenses, again in the form of a loan and a donation from Democratic donor Kevin Patrick Morris.” Ziegler and the rest of his investigative unit were removed from Hunter’s tax fraud case, allegedly on orders from the Justice Department, in May after Ziegler joined his supervisor Gary Shapley in publicly alleging fraud. concealment involving preferential treatment for the first family. A month later, the U.S. attorney’s office in Delaware announced a probation-only plea deal for Hunter, which ultimately fell through at a July court hearing when his attorneys pressed for assurances that he was receiving broad immunity for other possible crimes committed in the past. IRS agent Joseph Ziegler shared the eye-popping figure with the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday as House Republicans inch closer to an expected vote to authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden . Getty Images The full transcript of Ziegler and Shapley’s latest testimony before the tax-focused Ways and Means Committee was not immediately available. But a source familiar with the closed-door exchanges told the Post that Ziegler was asked to confirm the $4.9 million figure for Morris’ contributions and did so. It’s possible Morris gave even more in 2023, which isn’t included in the total. Morris did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment, nor did the White House or Hunter’s legal team. A Los Angeles grand jury is reportedly considering tax charges against Hunter in a case that could include related charges, such as for allegedly violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act by introducing associates to his father vice president and other American officials. As part of his testimony, Ziegler showed lawmakers an email indicating that as early as February 7, 2020, Morris was contacting accountants on Hunter’s behalf and warning them to work quickly to avoid “considerable risk personally and politically.” Stephen Yang In recent weeks, Republicans have also focused on alleged loans involving first brother James Biden. Republican leaders of the House Oversight Committee say James “laundered” $40,000 in funds linked to the Chinese government to pay Joe Biden in September 2017, and that he paid his brother $200,000 in 2018 after receiving an amount identical on the same day by promising to help an American hospital. The channel finds an investor from the Middle East using its political connections. The White House has said both loans were genuine and that President Biden did nothing wrong, but Republicans say the amounts originally loaned to James came from a law firm rather than Joe’s personal account Biden, which obscures the picture. Ziegler, a registered Democrat, and Shapley, a registered Republican who says he has voted for Democrats in the past, including Bill Clinton, have publicly opposed the handling of Hunter’s tax fraud investigation as the attorney American, David Weiss, reportedly considered allowing Hunter to avoid charges. , after Biden-appointed U.S. attorneys in Los Angeles and Washington declined to join in prosecutions in their districts, where the tax crimes would be brought due to residency issues. Ziegler chastised Democratic lawmakers Tuesday for their handling of the matter. “I can tell you that as a fellow Democrat, who has already voted for your fellow Democrats, I am extremely disappointed and hurt by some of your comments and actions,” he said. “The comments you made have had an impact on me and my family. My husband’s business was attacked and I was personally attacked by Biden family lawyers and members of the media. Load more…