Quote:The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government has revealed that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the United States Department of Treasury, urged financial institutions in the wake of January 6, 2021 to look through customers' transactions, using search terms like "Trump" and "MAGA"

The letter from the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Government and the Committee on the Judiciary have obtained documents indicating that following January 6, 2021, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) "distributed materials to financial institutions that, among other things, outline the 'typologies' of various persons of interest and provide financial institutions with suggested search terms and Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) for identifying transactions on behalf of federal law enforcement."

These search terms included "Trump," and "MAGA."

A "prior FinCEN analysis" warned financial institutions of "'extremism' indicators that include 'transportation changes, such as bus tickets, rental cars, or plane tickets, for travel to areas with no apparent purpose,' or 'the purchase of books (including religious texts) and subscriptions to other media containing extremist views'"

"In other words," Jim Jordan, chair of the committee wrote, "FinCEN urged large financial institutions to comb through the private transactions of their customers for suspicious charges on the basis of protected political and religious expression."

The committee and select subcommittee have also obtained documents revealing that FinCEN had distributed slides that were prepared by a financial institution, "explaining how other financial institutions can use MCC codes to detect customers whose transactions may reflect 'potential active shooters, [and] who may include dangerous International Terrorists / Domestic Terrorists / Homegrown Violent Extremists ('Lone Wolves')."

One slide provided by the letter instructs financial institutions to query for transactions that include MCC codes like "3484: Small Arms," "5091: Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies," and "5933: Pawn Shops."

Keywords for these codes included major chain stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Shop, and Cabela’s, as well as gun manufacturers like Sig Sauer, Browning, and Glock.

Jordan wrote that Noah Bishoff, the recipient of the letter and the former Director of the Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement in the Strategic Operations Division of FinCEN, should appear for a transcribed interview before the committee.

"As the former Director of the Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement in the Strategic Operations Division, you engaged regularly with financial institutions following the events of January 6, 2021, including the distribution of material about how financial institutions could use private customer information to assist federal law enforcement."

"As such, your testimony will aid our oversight. In particular, your testimony will help to inform the Committee and Select Subcommittee about federal law enforcement’s mass accumulation and use of Americans’ private information without legal process; FinCEN’s protocols, if any, to safeguard Americans’ privacy and constitutional rights in the receipt and use of such information."

(01-17-2024 05:10 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  

Quote:The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government has revealed that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the United States Department of Treasury, urged financial institutions in the wake of January 6, 2021 to look through customers' transactions, using search terms like "Trump" and "MAGA"

The letter from the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Government and the Committee on the Judiciary have obtained documents indicating that following January 6, 2021, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) "distributed materials to financial institutions that, among other things, outline the 'typologies' of various persons of interest and provide financial institutions with suggested search terms and Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) for identifying transactions on behalf of federal law enforcement."

These search terms included "Trump," and "MAGA."

A "prior FinCEN analysis" warned financial institutions of "'extremism' indicators that include 'transportation changes, such as bus tickets, rental cars, or plane tickets, for travel to areas with no apparent purpose,' or 'the purchase of books (including religious texts) and subscriptions to other media containing extremist views'"

"In other words," Jim Jordan, chair of the committee wrote, "FinCEN urged large financial institutions to comb through the private transactions of their customers for suspicious charges on the basis of protected political and religious expression."

The committee and select subcommittee have also obtained documents revealing that FinCEN had distributed slides that were prepared by a financial institution, "explaining how other financial institutions can use MCC codes to detect customers whose transactions may reflect 'potential active shooters, [and] who may include dangerous International Terrorists / Domestic Terrorists / Homegrown Violent Extremists ('Lone Wolves')."

One slide provided by the letter instructs financial institutions to query for transactions that include MCC codes like "3484: Small Arms," "5091: Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies," and "5933: Pawn Shops."

Keywords for these codes included major chain stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Shop, and Cabela’s, as well as gun manufacturers like Sig Sauer, Browning, and Glock.

Jordan wrote that Noah Bishoff, the recipient of the letter and the former Director of the Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement in the Strategic Operations Division of FinCEN, should appear for a transcribed interview before the committee.

"As the former Director of the Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement in the Strategic Operations Division, you engaged regularly with financial institutions following the events of January 6, 2021, including the distribution of material about how financial institutions could use private customer information to assist federal law enforcement."

"As such, your testimony will aid our oversight. In particular, your testimony will help to inform the Committee and Select Subcommittee about federal law enforcement’s mass accumulation and use of Americans’ private information without legal process; FinCEN’s protocols, if any, to safeguard Americans’ privacy and constitutional rights in the receipt and use of such information."

Link

(01-18-2024 07:40 AM)boss man Wrote:  The Dems have always targeted conservatives when they have the Presidency. This is not unusual; it is expected. It is the norm.