In a startling revelation, Republican Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and Select Subcommittee on Weaponization, disclosed that the federal government directed financial institutions to flag certain search terms, including “MAGA” and “Trump.” This instruction was part of a surveillance effort to monitor private transactions of Americans following the events of January 6th at the Capitol.
In a letter to Noah Bishoff, former Director of the Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Jordan outlined the concerning practice. The letter, first brought to light by Fox News, raises serious questions about the extent of government surveillance and its potential infringement on civil liberties.
The materials distributed by FinCEN to financial institutions contained guidelines for identifying transactions linked to various individuals of interest to federal law enforcement. These guidelines alarmingly suggested using generic terms like “TRUMP” and “MAGA” to probe Zelle payment messages. Moreover, they included a prior FinCEN analysis that listed potential “extremism” indicators. Such indicators ranged from transportation charges for travel without a clear purpose to the purchase of books or media containing extremist views.
Adding to the gravity of these revelations, the letter attached a FinCEN-prepared slide for financial institutions. This slide featured keywords like “Dick’s Sporting Goods” and “Cabela’s,” alongside Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) related to sporting and recreational goods, pawn shops, and specialty retailers.
Jordan’s disclosure signals a significant overreach of financial surveillance by the federal government, prompting concerns over the respect for fundamental civil liberties. This move to monitor private transactions based on political affiliations or leanings is deeply troubling and signifies a potential breach of privacy and freedom of expression.
In a similar vein, Jordan sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray regarding the FBI’s alleged communication with Bank of America. This communication sought specific search terms to track individuals making financial transactions in Washington, D.C., around January 5-7, 2021.
Jordan’s demand for transcribed interviews with Bishoff and senior FBI official Peter Sullivan by January 31 emphasizes the urgency and severity of these allegations. The implications of such government actions on the privacy and civil liberties of American citizens cannot be understated. This situation demands immediate attention and thorough investigation to ensure the protection of fundamental rights in the face of government surveillance.
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