"We now know the federal government flagged terms like "MAGA" and "TRUMP" to financial institutions if Americans completed transactions using those terms. What was also flagged? If you bought a religious text, like a BIBLE, or shopped at Bass Pro Shop," the Republican congressman disclosed in an X post. The potential alarm does not end here, the committee raised, as even purchases of "religious texts" are seen as indicative of extremism in the eyes of the investigators. The report further revealed that the investigators suggested banks filter transactions using keywords such as names of popular merchandise stores including Dick's Sporting Goods and Bass Pro Shops, among others.
The said move was part of an investigation into the events of January 6, 2021. Jordan's committee and its subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government was reported to have focused on federal law enforcement's acquisition of information about U.S. citizens without legal procedures as well as its engagement with the private sector. (Related: 20 Combat-ready FBI agents raid a "J6 protester" who merely entered Capitol's open door.)
According to Jordan, the papers they gathered pointed to actions from the Treasury Department’s Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement in the Strategic Operations of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). After the alleged "violent" J6 "riot" at the Capitol, the department provided search terms to banks to identify transactions on behalf of federal law enforcement. These materials suggested generic keywords to search Zelle payment messages amidst other instructions. Jordan further stated that FinCEN relied on large financial institutions to scrutinize their customers' private transactions for suspicious activities that might stem from protected political and religious expression.
In light of these revelations, the representative requested transcribed interviews of Peter Sullivan, senior private sector partner for Outreach in the Strategic Partner Engagement Section of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Noah Bishoff, former director of the Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement in the Strategic Operations Division of FinCEN. "Pervasive financial surveillance of American citizens' private transactions, coordinated with federal law enforcement, raises serious concerns about FinCEN's attitude towards fundamental civil liberties," Jordan remarked.
Meanwhile, people on the internet are starting to grow weary as they learn about these "surveillance efforts" and gross disrespect of their privacy.
An X user replied to Jordan's expose, saying: "I am once again begging Congress to do its job for once and stop just telling us all the bad and illegal things Joe Biden is doing and instead impeach him." Another one emphasized that the American people have a mountain of evidence already confirming federal law enforcement targets American citizens based on political and religious beliefs. "The question is, what is Congress going to do about it?" said the Righteous Crusader. Someone else commented: "They want to literally eliminate the middle class."
Bank of America voluntarily snooped through private information
It was further revealed by Jordan that at the request of the FBI, Bank of America "voluntarily and without any legal process" snooped through the information of anyone making certain purchases in and around Washington before and after the January 6 protests. As per the Ohio Republican, Sullivan provided the U.S.'s second-largest bank with specific search terms to look for as it looked over customer data. Federal investigators also reportedly asked the bank for information on customers who made debit or credit card purchases in D.C., reserved hotels and Airbnbs in and around the capital, patronized weapons stores and made airline reservations within the timeframe surrounding the attacks.
Bank of America reportedly handed over the information of 211 people to the FBI, Fox News reported in February 2021. Only one of the 211 was brought in for questioning but none were arrested, according to the media outlet's report.
The financial establishment released a statement back then saying: "We do not comment on our communications with law enforcement. All banks have responsibilities under federal law to cooperate with law enforcement inquiries in full compliance with the law. If clients reach out to us and raise concerns, we'll certainly speak to them about their concerns," its spokesman William Halldin told the New York Post. The Post cited that under the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act, financial institutions are required to cooperate with law enforcement to detect money laundering, terrorist financing and other criminal acts.
Head to Surveillance.news to read more about how the U.S. government is still "watching" Jan. 6 Capitol protesters.
Watch the video below where a former FBI agent exposed illegal spying on Americans.
This video is from the Vigilent Citizen channel on Brighteon.com.
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