Amidst the ongoing Biden impeachment inquiry, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblowers will testify behind closed doors to Congress. This unprecedented move has been met with both excitement and trepidation from the public.
The IRS whistleblowers are some of the few people to have direct insight into President Biden’s tax returns and business dealings, making them invaluable sources in the impeachment inquiry. Their testimony could provide vital information to Congress and the public concerning the President’s potential financial conflicts of interest and possible tax fraud.
But Congress is now taking extra precautionary measures to ensure that the whistleblowers’ identities and any potential incriminating evidence remain confidential. Congress has required that all witnesses testify via video conference in a secure undisclosed location, instead of the typical hearing room. In addition, any conversations in the room will be kept confidential under the whistleblower protection act, meaning that the transcripts of the testimony will not be made public.
The secrecy of the whistleblower testimony has been met with criticism by some. Since impeachment proceedings would traditionally be open to the public, many are claiming that the Biden administration has been trying to hide information from the public. However, other observers have recognized the need for confidentiality in certain impeachment proceedings, as the security of the witnesses and potential evidence must be maintained.
While it remains unclear exactly what the IRS whistleblowers will impart, one thing is certain: the Biden impeachment inquiry will continue to bring scrutiny, debates, and controversy. Regardless of what the testimony reveals, it is clear that the confidential testimony of the IRS whistleblowers will be integral to the outcome of the inquiry.