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Congressman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, revealed on Wednesday that the Biden administration partnered with financial institutions to monitor conservative Americans.
According to Jordan, purchases made by Trump supporters were archived by the federal government if customers used “MAGA” or “Trump” during a transaction. Frightfully, the surveillance expands beyond simple terminology.
Files possessed by the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government detail that specific locations and materials were “flagged” as well. “Individuals who shopped at stores like Cabela’s or Dick’s Sporting Goods, or purchased religious texts like a bible, may also have had their transactions flagged,” states the document.
Considering these revelations, Jordan, the House Judiciary Chair, is demanding answers for the egregious actions. In a letter, Chairman Jordan requested a meeting with Noah Bishoff, former Director of the Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement in the Strategic Operations Division of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
“We believe…that you possess information that is necessary for our oversight,” wrote Jordan.
Reportedly, FinCEN warned financial institutions of “extremism,” and encouraged them to sift through the purchases of their customers.
Indicators for what the agency considers to be extreme include “transportation charges, such as bus tickets, rental cars, or plane tickets, and for travel to areas with no apparent purpose.”
In accompaniment with Bishoff, Senior Private Sector Partner for Outreach in the Strategic Partner Engagement Section of the FBI, Peter Sullivan, was summonsed to appear before the Judiciary Committee.
The purpose of the hearing is to question why the FBI requested Bank of America for information regarding “any historical purchase” of a firearm, investment property or airline travel within a specific time frame.
In August 2023, Rep. Jordan subpoenaed the FBI in relation to similar the censorship of conservative by big tech companies. The purpose was to determine if the federal agency played any role at all in the discrimination.
