Key facts
- IRS agent Brian J. Visalli alleges the agency leaked his personal and tax information to federal prosecutors.
- Visalli claims the leak was retaliation for his whistleblower complaints and criticism of IRS leadership.
- The lawsuit states the disclosures have damaged Visalli's professional standing and interfered with his investigations.
- Visalli was previously facing termination from the IRS over allegations of inaccurate tax filings.
- The alleged leak has resulted in Visalli being designated "Giglio impaired," impacting his credibility as an investigator.
- Visalli is seeking damages for alleged violations of privacy laws.
Brian J. Visalli, a veteran IRS agent specializing in tax fraud investigations, has filed a lawsuit accusing the agency of illegally releasing his confidential personal and tax information to the Justice Department. Visalli alleges that senior IRS officials made these unauthorized disclosures in retaliation for his history of whistleblower complaints and his criticism of agency leadership regarding the mismanagement of tax scheme investigations.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in US District Court in Chicago, also names the Treasury Department as a defendant. It claims the disclosures have caused Visalli to become "Giglio impaired," a designation that requires prosecutors to disclose information that could challenge an agent's credibility to criminal defendants. Visalli's attorney, Seth Matus, stated that the IRS is breaking the law it enforces by releasing this information to damage his client's credibility.
This legal action comes six months after the IRS initiated proceedings to terminate Visalli, citing allegations of inaccurate tax filings for three years and a "lack of candor." Visalli denies these charges, asserting that his amended returns show the government was never "shorted a single penny." He remains on restricted duty pending the resolution of these internal charges.
The complaint focuses on alleged privacy breaches under the Privacy Act of 1974 and sections of the Internal Revenue Code that protect taxpayer information. Visalli's investigations have included major offshore tax havens and wealthy Americans claiming residency in Puerto Rico to benefit from tax exemptions.