Treasury Dept. Officials Directed Banks to Flag Customers Buying “Extremist” Religious Texts
A House subcommittee report shows financial institutions were to look for purchases, subscriptions, or travel plans that could point to “extremist” views after January 6th, 2021
Officials at the U.S. Treasury Department directed banks to flag purchases such as religious texts that could be considered “extremist” as well as items bought at sporting goods store and suspicious travel plans.
The House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government released its findings last week that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau within the Treasury Department, told banking institutions to look for purchases of certain types of religious literature, firearms and accessories, ammunition, and purchases at pawn shops.
FinCEN also issued educational materials to banks describing purchases at such retail outlets as Academy Sports and Outdoors, Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, and Dick’s Sporting Goods could signal a person was an “active shooter.”
“Despite these transactions having no apparent criminal nexus—and, in fact, relate to Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights—FinCEN seems to have adopted a characterization of these Americans as potential threat actors,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) wrote in a letter to the federal bureau demanding answers.
“This kind of pervasive financial surveillance, carried out in coordination with and at the request of federal law enforcement, into Americans’ private transactions is alarming and raises serious doubts about FinCEN’s respect for fundamental civil liberties.”
Jordan’s letter directed at the Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement in the Strategic Operations Division’s former director Noah Bishoff appear before the subcommittee.
Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who sits on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and FinCEN Director Andrea Gacki seeking answers on who authorized the requests of these financial records.
Scott also asked, “Which religious texts were flagged as potentially indicative of extremism? And on what basis did Treasury/FinCEN conclude that purchasing or possessing of religious texts may be indicative of extremism?”
“Federal government efforts to target individuals and entities based on their political views is a blatant and egregious violation of our Constitution,” his letter also stated. “Additionally, reported actions like these disrupt confidence in federal law enforcement and raise significant questions regarding the independence of federal financial regulators.”