In a refreshing rebuke to the pervasive hypocrisy in Washington, D.C., Judge Ana Reyes of the D.C. District Court has taken the Justice Department to task for its flagrant disregard of congressional subpoenas in the investigation into Hunter Biden. This criticism comes amidst the department’s relentless prosecution of Trump officials for the same offense.
Peter Navarro, a former Trump trade adviser, currently languishes in jail for defying a subpoena from the House January 6 Committee. Judge Reyes pointedly highlighted this fact, stating that the Justice Department’s current actions appear hypocritical given their previous zealous pursuit of criminal charges against individuals who failed to comply with congressional subpoenas.
It is high time that someone in authority has called out the glaring double standard that has become rampant throughout the federal government. Judge Reyes’s words carry even greater weight given her appointment by President Biden. This situation underscores the urgent need for accountability and equal application of the law, regardless of political affiliation.
The Biden administration has been particularly egregious in its forked-tongue approach to whistleblower protections. IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel has repeatedly professed his support for whistleblowers, but his actions tell a different story. Werfel has left whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler exposed and vulnerable to retaliation for their courageous actions in exposing DOJ obstruction of justice in the Hunter Biden investigation.
Shapley and Ziegler made lawful whistleblower disclosures internally and to IRS and DOJ watchdogs before testifying to the House Ways and Means Committee. Their testimony revealed a disturbing pattern of wrongdoing by their IRS superiors, who turned a blind eye to the obstruction of justice. This inaction allowed the situation to spiral out of control, forcing Shapley and Ziegler to risk their careers by going public.
Despite Werfel’s professed support for whistleblowers, he has failed to provide Shapley and Ziegler with the protection they deserve. He has ignored their requests for meetings and has remained silent as they face aggressive attacks from Hunter Biden’s well-funded legal team.
This ongoing mistreatment of whistleblowers sends a chilling message to others who might consider exposing wrongdoing within the federal government. It undermines confidence in the integrity of our institutions and makes a mockery of the Biden administration’s promises to protect whistleblowers.
The double standard and hypocrisy that have become synonymous with Washington, D.C., must end. Judge Reyes’s rebuke is a welcome sign that some in positions of authority are willing to speak out against these injustices. It is time for the Justice Department and the Biden administration to live up to their promises and ensure that the law is applied fairly and equally to all, regardless of political affiliation or personal connections.
