SECIL Partner John Rowley Represents IRS Whistleblower in Lawsuit Dismissal

On April 30, 2025, Hunter Biden voluntarily dismissed his civil lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, which alleged that two federal agents—IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley and Special Agent Joseph Ziegler—violated his privacy through their whistleblower disclosures to Congress.

SECIL Law PLLC Partner John Rowley represented Agent Ziegler in the matter. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. The case had drawn national media attention for its implications involving whistleblower rights, privacy laws, and high-profile federal investigations.

The agents’ legal team, including Rowley, released a joint statement underscoring that the agents had acted within the scope of the law and had been vindicated by the dismissal of the case. The team noted that the suit was a retaliatory attempt to silence credible whistleblowers who raised legitimate concerns about preferential treatment in a high-profile investigation.

John Rowley’s role in this matter reflects SECIL Law PLLC’s ongoing commitment to representing individuals in complex, high-stakes government investigations and enforcement actions, particularly in matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“We were always motivated by doing the right thing, defending our work, and honoring our duty to the American people.” – Statement from Agents Shapley and Ziegler