Published on January 20, 2024, 1:36 am

Image source: Fox News

The US House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee under Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is looking at questioning a former official from the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), over allegations that the institution promoted surveillance through phrases such as “MAGA” and “Trump,” along with purchases involving religious texts.

These proceedings have been prompted by revelations following the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, which suggest FinCEN outlined various persons of interest whom financial institutions could identify using specific search terms or Merchant Category Codes (MCCs). The terminology reportedly directed at financial entities included political slogans like “TRUMP” and “MAGA,” alongside indications related to religious extremism.

Rep. Jordan highlighted FinCEN’s purported directives in his address to Noah Bishoff, ex-Director of the Treasury’s Strategic Operations Division under Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. There are suggestions that FinCEN had warned banks of ‘extremism’ markers encompassing travel charges for unspecified purposes or purchases of literature hinting towards extremist views—including religious books.

There is an accusation that based on these guidelines, financial establishments were urged to screen their customer transactions for suspicious activities stemming from political or religious expressions. In addition, details coming out of the subcommittee investigations indicate federal authorities sought transaction data associated with prominent sports goods stores such as Bass Pro Shop, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Cabela’s.

Further information suggests government-led instructions encouraged banks to monitor transactions involving keywords like “Dick’s Sporting Goods” and “Cabela’s,” among others. Though Rep.Jordan specifically emphasized January 6 in his letter to Bishoff, sources have shared it seems there were no particular timeframes placed on these search instructions given to banks. This may imply that federal efforts extended beyond scrutinizing transactions directly associated with the Capital riots.

These developments arise within days after President Joe Biden commences his reelection campaign for 2024, where he pegs a significant number of Donald Trump’s supporters as ‘extremists’. In a video released on January 4th, President Biden underscored the vitality of preserving American democracy while addressing the dangerous extremist movements threatening to destabilize it.

In summary, as we gather real news from trusted sources and analyze them through our Christian worldview, we stay committed to delivering accurate reporting on these unfolding matters. It’s crucial to consider how such governmental initiatives could potentially impact personal freedom, online transactions, religious expressions, and their broader implications in our society.