The House Judiciary Committee released a 36-page report this week revealing details about the secret tool federal investigators used to conduct "broad financial" surveillance of "MAGA" (Make America Great Again) transactions.
A special "web portal," we now know, was used to target "domestic violent extremists," including presumed supporters of former President Donald Trump, as part of a sweeping operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. (Related: UNCONSTITUTIONAL: U.S. Treasury Department admits it targeted "MAGA" finances without due process.)
? #BREAKING: New Report Exposes Massive Government Surveillance of Americans' Financial Data
The report reveals alarming evidence of federal law enforcement engaging in broad financial surveillance of the private transactions of Americans.
Read here: https://t.co/iiyFHOUIa0
— Weaponization Committee (@Weaponization) March 6, 2024
Weaponized federal government
The web portal was created through a public-private partnership called the Domestic Security Alliance Council, led by the FBI's Office of Private Sector and the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis. It has been utilized by Barclays, U.S. Bank, the Charles Schwab Corporation, HSBC, Bank of America, PayPal and numerous other financial entities.
According to Republicans, the federal government used the web portal to exchange information as part of a mass surveillance and targeting operation against those who support Trump.
It’s alarming to see the federal government exploit partisan agencies to push their political agenda through financial surveillance.
Watch @Jim_Jordan’s full Q&A below ?? pic.twitter.com/WvISWYspfy
— Weaponization Committee (@Weaponization) March 7, 2024
In a press statement, House Republicans explained that the web portal appears to have been used for the sharing of intelligence products among the aforementioned financial institutions. That intelligence was then used to "identify individuals who fit the profile of criminal and 'domestic violent extremists,' often because of their conservative political views or other constitutionally protected activity."
Republicans claim that federal investigators used the web portal to distribute reports and materials to the aforementioned financial institutions, with their aim being to "commandeer" databases and conduct "sweeping" search operations on Americans.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) March 7, 2024
Among the targeted keywords in the database were "MAGA" and "Trump," along with books, purchases and even religious texts that mention firearms. Retailers like Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop, and Dick's Sporting Goods were also targeted in the sweep.
"This surveillance extended beyond criminal suspicion, likely encompassing millions of Americans with conservative viewpoints or Second Amendment interests," Republicans say.
What is worse, the warrantless searches targeted Americans who are not even suspected of committing any crimes – they were targeted merely because of their political beliefs.
"The pattern of financial surveillance uncovered in the report raises serious concerns about federal law enforcement's and financial institutions' commitment to respecting Americans' privacy rights and fundamental civil liberties," Republicans insist.
In the comments, someone noted that the FBI has become "little more than the Gestapo for the Democrat Party," based on these revelations.
"It has always been this way," said another, "since the days of Edgar Gay Hoover who was busy helping his boss LBJ against Goldwater."
"The DoJ and the FBI have been fundamentally corrupt and criminal enterprises for a very long time ... See Sidney Powell's 'Licensed to Lie' where she talks about how utterly unethical, criminal federal prosecutors are / have been in almost every high-profile case."
Another noted that the same government targeting Trump-supporting Americans has no problem with leaving the southern border wipe open for invaders.
"Let's start a Taxpayer Lives Matter movement," this person added. "It's sure to be monitored closely by you-know-who."
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