The House Judiciary Committee is investigating financial organizations for using bank records as surveillance tools against conservatives. There is evidence that the federal government has flagged various purchases and transactions of U.S. citizens based on certain keywords. The Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) was meant to collect and analyze financial crimes such as money laundering and financing terrorism. However, under the guise of investigating Jan.6, FinCEN has gathered information on citizens with no ties to criminal activity.
The U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) has requested GoFundMe and Eventbrite to submit documentation of FinCEN’s collusion with financial organizations. FinCEN requested transactions with keywords such as “MAGA,” “Trump,” “gun,” “civil war,” “Biden,” and “Kamala.”
Eventbrite is a ticket broker and handled ticket sales and exchanges for many of Donald Trump’s events. By requesting transaction information through FinCEN, the FBI could determine who attended Trump events. This is a violation of the First Amendment, which guarantees citizens the right to free speech and freedom of assembly.
Certain businesses were also used as keyword searches to determine who Trump supporters may be, such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Cabelas and Bass Pro Shops. These stores are associated with supporters of Donald Trump because they are popular in rural areas of the nation. Customers of these businesses enjoy outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing and also purchase firearms and ammunition from them.
Investigations into Jan. 6 participants initiated the searches but the information gathering went beyond the original intent and was used for federal investigations of U.S. citizens with no ties to Jan.6. The inquiries are not only against the Fourth Amendment which guarantees the right against unreasonable searches, but also have First Amendment implications. The FinCEN investigation also used symbols such as the Celtic cross and other Christian symbols to flag the transactions of Christians. These actions were recommended by non-government left-wing groups such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The House subcommittee has not determined whether the searches are still being conducted.
.@Jim_Jordan tells me his new committee on the weaponization of the federal government will focus on attacks against the First Amendment, especially free speech: "If you can't talk, you can't practice your faith. You can't petition your member of Congress. You can't assemble." pic.twitter.com/Raf6ILZwdA
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) January 11, 2023
