An agency of the federal government “flagged” Bible purchases as an indication of “extremism” in communications with banks following the events of January 6, 2021.
“We now know the federal government flagged terms like ‘MAGA’ and ‘TRUMP,’ to financial institutions if Americans completed transactions using those terms,” Rep. Jim Jordan, R-OH, wrote on X. “What was also flagged? If you bought a religious text, like a BIBLE, or shopped at Bass Pro Shop.”
Jim Jordan:
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.
“FinCEN warned financial institutions of ‘extremism’ indicators that include … ‘the purchase of books (including religious texts) and subscriptions to other media containing extremist views,’” Jordan continued.
His letter went on to note that the government had also instructed banks to monitor purchases of firearms as well as “Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies.”
“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,” Jordan continued.
“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,” he concluded.
FinCEN is a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Former Army Green Beret Jim Hanson described the agency’s move as “one of the most egregious violations of our Constitution I can ever recall.”
“The federal government is enlisting financial institutions” to “spy on citizens with the sole justification” that they “are political opponents,” he added.
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