Come for Morning Wire’s Afternoon Update’s straight news, but stay for the Rapid Reactions The following five stories, and more, can be heard on today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update podcast. Click here to listen.
1. IRS Whistleblower’s Bombshell Allegations Update
On Wednesday, IRS Special Agent Joe Ziegler — the previously anonymous “Whistleblower X” — testified before Congress revealing his identity and providing detail into allegations of corruption at the IRS to protect the Biden family. Ziegler is a Democrat who worked as an IRS supervisory agent on the agency’s investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax affairs. He testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability:
IRS Special Agent and whistleblower Joseph Ziegler: "I am risking my career, my reputation, and my casework … No one should be above the law, regardless of your political affiliation." pic.twitter.com/wH8H1FMhEx
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 19, 2023
IRS WHISTLEBLOWER JOSEPH ZIEGLER:
"There is NOTHING that indicates Hunter Biden will be required to amend his false tax return for 2018 — a false tax return that includes improper deductions for prostitutes, sex clubs, and his adult children's tuition." pic.twitter.com/UNPMi5t0Sh
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 19, 2023
Rapid Reaction: This author will have more on this topic later, but for now, readers can enjoy a reaction from The Heritage Foundation’s Mike Howell, Project Oversight Director, sent to The Daily Wire via e-mail:
HOWELL: The courageous IRS whistleblowers provided sworn testimony today confirming major political interference into the Hunter Biden investigation, which is set to culminate in a sweetheart plea deal next week.
This sort of activity, running a multimillion dollar international play to pay scheme involving the current President of the United States, is usually reserved for third world countries. We are fighting this at Heritage in federal court and will be formally opposing the plea deal next week. In that fight, we forced the DOJ to admit that it has over 2,500 pages of communications between Weiss’ office and DOJ or between Weiss office and other judicial districts about the Hunter Biden investigation. That’s a substantial amount of coordination for a supposedly independent investigation. The Hill should subpoena and obtain that document set immediately.
Chairman Comer is to be commended for his dogged investigation and literally providing the receipts via bank records. The full weight of Congress should be behind achieving actual accountability, immediately. The goal here is the de-weaponization of government, not just exposure, and Congress’ efforts will be judged by that standard.
The Hill took a major step back when they let FBI Director Wray off the hook for contempt of Congress for his refusal to turn over a document alleging a criminal bribery scheme. The time has to come to re-engage forcefully and our hope is that the full Congress supports Chairman Comer in this effort.
2. Wuhan Won’t Get Any More U.S. Taxpayer Funding
The Biden administration has formally suspended funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the Chinese research institute at the center of the COVID lab leak theory. The administration claims the institute does not comply with federal regulations. The Department of Health and Human Services informed the Wuhan Institute this week that the U.S. is cutting off funding — potentially permanently.
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The decision comes after a months-long review by HHS, which concluded that the institute — a leader in coronavirus research based in Wuhan, where the COVID-19 virus began — “is not compliant with federal regulations and is not presently responsible.” The decision to scrap funding came after the Wuhan Institute failed to provide documents related to concerns that it had violated the National Institutes of Health’s biosafety protocols.
Rapid Reaction: The truth is that a Health and Human Services Department’s Office of Inspector General report alleged that both NIH and EcoHealth Alliance — the organization that provided WIV with taxpayer money — were careless in their business dealings with the Chinese lab.
That alleged trail of negligence, it seems, has left numerous questions in its wake — particularly just how dangerous the research being conducted at WIV was and its relation to the COVID pandemic.
According to the IG document released in January, NIH and EcoHealth Alliance had established monitoring procedures for WIV, yet both failed to comply with those measures. Given the potential danger of the experiments being conducted by these groups, irresponsibility raises major alarms, according to the government.
The reality is that we’ll likely never know what WIV was doing with COVID viruses just before the pandemic hit — though thoughtful observers can probably take a guess.
Read more here.
3. Media Will Be Allowed At Illegal Alien And Alleged Rapist Soccer Coach Hearing
A Tennessee judge denied a motion on Tuesday to restrict media from a case involving a soccer coach accused of drugging and raping young boys. Police in Franklin, Tennessee, arrested Camilo Hurtado Campos earlier this month. According to police, a restaurant worker found Campos’ cell phone which contained a large number of disturbing pictures and videos of young boys being assaulted. Police have confirmed Campos entered the U.S. illegally and had resided in Franklin for more than 20 years. Lawmakers, like Senator Marsha Blackburn, want answers.
A hearing for Campos is slated for July 25.
Rapid Reaction: Campos should be the face of the U.S.’ dangerous immigration policies. According to officials, Campos was in the country for more than twenty years. He embedded himself in Franklin, TN — a town that voted 62% Republican in 2020 — and allegedly took advantage of children for years.
He never should have been in the country in the first place. America should deport all illegal aliens.
4. Illegal Aliens Cause Alleged Machete Mayhem
In Waltham, Massachusetts, a machete fight led to the arrest of three illegal aliens.
Authorities say that 27-year-old Osman Aguilar-Borrayo, 21-year-old Kevin Aguilar-Borrayo, and 19-year-old Bryan Aguilar-Borrayo, were arrested last Friday around 6:30 p.m. Osman was arrested for armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery on a pregnant woman, assault, and battery with a dangerous weapon and mayhem, according to The Boston Herald. His two younger brothers were arrested on mayhem charges. ICE says that all three illegally crossed the southern border and were given an immigration hearings court date but never appeared. Now they face deportation.
Rapid Reaction: Had the Aguilar-Borrayo brothers never engaged in an alleged machete fight last Friday night, then law enforcement officials might have never known that the three illegal aliens were living in Waltham, Massachusetts, at all.
How many more men like the Aguilar-Borrayo brothers are out there? Well, it’s hard to say.
Millions have flooded the country in the past two and a half years alone. Deportations have been at low for much of the Biden presidency.
In fact, the Biden administration has made it a priority to only deport “criminal” illegal aliens. So, rather than be proactive and deport all illegal aliens, authorities are advised to wait for illegal aliens to commit crimes before nabbing them. If those illegal aliens don’t get busted for committing crimes, then they’re virtually able to stay forever.
Read more here.
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