Government corruption: D.C. to Wuhan, a global concern.

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. 

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1. IRS Whistleblower’s ‌Bombshell Allegations Update

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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:

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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

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IRS WHISTLEBLOWER ⁣JOSEPH ZIEGLER:

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“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

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 person, assault, and battery with a ‌dangerous weapon ⁣and‍ mayhem.⁤ 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.

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How many ⁣more‌ men ⁣like ⁢the ‍Aguilar-Borrayo brothers⁣ are out ‌there?‍ Well,⁣ it’s⁢ hard to say.

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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.

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Read more ​here.

To listen ⁣to ‌the audio version⁢ of Afternoon Update, click ‌here. And for more in-depth ⁣discussion ‌of⁣ the⁣ biggest stories⁣ of⁢ the day,⁣ listen⁤ to ⁢the latest⁢ full​ episode​ of Morning Wire every morning.

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