While CNN and MSNBC tried to hide the House Oversight Committee’s hearing with two IRS whistleblowers who investigated Hunter Biden by not carrying it live wall-to-wall, ABC’s World News Tonight stood alone as the only broadcast network to ignore their sworn testimony. It was testimony that exposed how the so-called Department of Justice and Delaware U.S. Attorney’s office were meddling in their investigation to protect the Bidens.
Instead of covering the latest development in a scandal rocking the Biden White House, ABC spent two and half minutes (2:27) on Special Counsel Jack Smith going after former President Trump and almost two minutes (1:47) on dubious claims meant to smear Texas DPS and how they deal with illegal immigrants.
In stark contrast, CBS Evening News dedicated almost three minutes (2:51) to the whistleblower hearing with senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge snagging an exclusive interview with one of the whistleblowers. She noted at whistleblower Joseph Ziegler was “a 13-year veteran of the IRS” and “a registered Democrat” as she highlighted moments from their conversation.
According to him, they were investigating “hotels [Hunter Biden] was blacklisted from, payments that were made to escorts, payments that are made to no-show employees.” But he also divulged interference in his work:
HERRIDGE: But Ziegler described to CBS News a series of roadblocks that included his efforts to interview Hunter Biden's adult children about the legitimacy of his tax deductions.
What did the assistant U.S. attorney tell you?
ZIEGLER: That that is going to get us into hot water.
HERRIDGE: Ziegler also told us prosecutors would not sign off on pursuing leads that might involve President Biden.
ZIEGLER: Anytime we potentially wanted to go down the road of asking questions related to the President, it was, that's going to take too much approvals, we can't ask those questions.
HERRIDGE: This is a politically sensitive case. Wouldn't it require additional approvals?
ZIEGLER: Yes, I do understand that. It would be like, let's think about it, let's put it on the back burner, and it would now move down to item number 50.
Herridge even used Ziegler’s account to undermine the assertions of the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee, Jamie Raskin (MD).
Over on NBC Nightly News, there appeared to be a bit of reluctance to cover the story but they did give it over two minutes (2:02) of airtime. Correspondent Ryan Nobles reported that “under oath, a pair of career IRS investigators testifying to Congress that they believe their superiors and officials at the Department of Justice worked to suppress a probe into the finances of the President's son Hunter Biden.”
Nobles did play soundbites from the whistleblowers, one from Ziegler and two from 14-year IRS veteran Gary Shapley. Including Shapley testifying that “At every stage, decisions were made that benefited the subject of this investigation.”
But in contrast to Herridge, Nobles used soundbites of Democrats spewing points to undermine the whistleblowers. He even touted the White House “blasting the hearing”:
REP. JARED MOSKOWITZ (D-FL): Well, that's standard. Investigators and prosecutors, do this all the time, right? I mean, so the prosecutors are the ones that make the decision.
(…)
NOBLES: Tonight, the White House reiterating the President was not involved in his son's business dealings and blasting the hearing.
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE (White House press secretary): Their focus is continuing to do political stunts. That's what they want to do but that's not what the President is focusing on.
At one point, Nobles noted that Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss “sent multiple letters to Congress disputing” their claims. But failed to note that Weiss has not been directly grilled on the allegations by Congress.
ABC’s omission of this hearing was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Consumer Cellular and AARP. Their contact information is linked.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
July 19, 2023
6:42:28 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: Now to Capitol Hill, where two agents from the Internal Revenue Service testified about their role in the federal investigation of Hunter Biden. The President's son is expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax crimes next week, but in an exclusive interview with CBS's Catherine Herridge, the lead case agent said the evidence supported more serious charges.
[Cuts to video]
CATHERINE HERRIDGE: The special agent, Joseph Ziegler is a 13 year veteran of the IRS, a registered Democrat, and until now, a confidential whistle-blower. Today, he publicly testified about his role investigating the President's son, Hunter, for tax crimes.
JOSEPH ZIEGLER: I am the main case agent. I worked 95 percent of this tax investigation.
HERRIDGE: In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Ziegler told us he believed the evidence he gathered during the five-year probe supported multiple felony and misdemeanor counts, including allegations Hunter Biden wrote off personal expenses as business payments.
ZIEGLER: Hotels he was blacklisted from, payments that were made to escorts, payments that are made to no-show employees.
HERRIDGE: Ziegler said he drafted this memo recommending Justice Department prosecutors charge Hunter Biden accordingly but said the Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss told him there was resistance to pursuing some of these charges by other officials at the Justice Department.
ZIEGLER: It’s a matter of, are we treating all taxpayers the same?
HERRIDGE: And in this case?
ZIEGLER: And in this case, no, I don't think so.
HERRIDGE: Today, Democrats pushed backs on claims of preferential treatment.
REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): There is no evidence Hunter Biden has received any kind of official favoritism in this prosecution for being Joe Biden’s son.
HERRIDGE: But Ziegler described to CBS News a series of roadblocks that included his efforts to interview Hunter Biden's adult children about the legitimacy of his tax deductions.
What did the assistant U.S. attorney tell you?
ZIEGLER: That that is going to get us into hot water.
HERRIDGE: Ziegler also told us prosecutors would not sign off on pursuing leads that might involve President Biden.
ZIEGLER: Anytime we potentially wanted to go down the road of asking questions related to the President, it was, that's going to take too much approvals, we can't ask those questions.
HERRIDGE: Is a politically sensitive case. Wouldn't it require additional approvals?
ZIEGLER: Yes, I do understand that. It would be like, let's think about it, let's put it on the back burner, and it would now move down to item number 50.
[Cuts back to live]
HERRIDGE: This probe was ongoing during the 2020 election when Justice Department policy limited some investigative steps. The U.S. attorney in Delaware has told Congress twice he had the ultimate decision-making authority. Resident Biden denies involvement in his son's business deals. And Norah, Hunter Biden's legal claim that any claim the probe wasn't thorough is, quote, "preposterous."
O’DONNELL: Interesting new details. Catherine Herridge, thank you very much.
NBC Nightly News
July 19, 2023
6:41:57 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Now to the revealing new testimony in Congress today about the IRS investigation into Hunter Biden's finances. Two IRS whistleblowers told a House committee they believe officials slow-walked their probe. Here's Ryan Nobles.
[Cuts to video]
RYAN NOBLES: Tonight, under oath, a pair of career IRS investigators testifying to Congress that they believe their superiors and officials at the Department of Justice worked to suppress a probe into the finances of the President's son Hunter Biden.
JOSEPH ZIEGLER: And in coming forward, I believe I'm risking my career, my reputation.
NOBLES: Joseph Ziegler who came forward publically for the first time and Gary Shapley pointed to the evidence they say they collected which they viewed as damning and the skeptical response they said they received from the prosecutors involved.
GARY SHAPLEY: I'm here to tell you that the Delaware Attorney's office and Department of Justice handling the Hunter Biden tax investigation was different from any other case in my 14 years at the IRS. At every stage decisions were made that benefited the subject of this investigation.
NOBLES: But Democrats on the panel were quick to push back. Pointing out it is the job of prosecutors to make the call to hand down indictments, not investigators.
REP. JARED MOSKOWITZ (D-FL): Well, that's standard. Investigators and prosecutors do this all the time, right? I mean, so the prosecutors are the ones that make the decision.
NOBLES: Shapley also testified that David Weiss, the federal prosecutor in Delaware who handled the investigation said he didn't have the authority to decide whether the charges were filed.
SHAPLEY: The story has been changing from Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney Weiss.
NOBLES: Weiss, a Trump appointee, has sent multiple letters to congress disputing that. Tonight, the White House reiterating the President was not involved in his son's business dealings and blasting the hearing.
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE (White House press secretary): Their focus is continuing to do political stunts. That's what they want to do but that's not what the President is focusing on.
[Cuts back to live]
NOBLES: And Hunter Biden is scheduled to appear before a judge next week to deal with a plea arrangement on the tax charges that he's facing. The U.S. attorney in the case says the investigation is ongoing. Lester.
HOLT: Ryan Nobles, thank you.
