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First time on Fox: Judicial Committee of the House of Representatives announced on Friday that Federal law enforcement agencies are managing the Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) system to gain access to Americans’ financial information. without an arrest warrant or probable cause
The panel and subcommittee on federal weapons released an interim report. It was first obtained by Fox News Digital, which detailed its findings.
FEDS conducts surveillance of Americans’ personal financial information. ‘Unfairly’ and ‘unjustly’: the judicial branch of the house
The committee said in its report that the FBI “has distorted” the SAR filing process to treat financial institutions. “As a de facto law enforcement agency, issuing ‘requests’ without legal process This amounts to a demand for information related to a certain person or activity. It is considered ‘suspicious’.”
“With narrow exceptions “Federal law does not allow law enforcement agencies to interrogate financial institutions for customer information without some form of due process,” the report said. “The FBI circumvents this process by notifying financial institutions of ‘suspicious’ parties and encouraging them to These institutions file SARs, which do not require any legal process. and thereby provide federal law enforcement with access to highly confidential and sensitive information.”
Jim Jordan, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee R-Ohio State (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The committee said that in doing so, the FBI “complied with the requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act,” which states that it is the responsibility of banks to file SARs whenever specified. “Suspicious transactions involving potential violations of law or regulation”
The committee acknowledged that “At least one financial institution has requested legal process from the FBI to obtain the information they require,” but noted that “Often the FBI doesn’t seem to have a response.”
‘Shocking’ surveillance: FEDS asks banks to search private transactions for words like ‘MAGA,’ ‘TRUMP’
“In summary, by providing financial institutions with a front-line list of individuals it deems ‘suspicious,’ the FBI has overturned this framework and violated the Fourth Amendment’s requirements for specificity and probable cause. can go,” the report states.
The committee added that their oversight of “financial surveillance” had revealed “New light on the deteriorating state of American financial privacy. and the federal government’s widespread and warrantless surveillance program.”
The committee launched an investigation into government-led financial surveillance earlier this year. After a whistleblower revealed that following the events of January 1, on December 6, 2021, Bank of America “voluntarily and without due process” provided a list of all individuals using Bank of America credit or debit cards in the city. Washington, D.C., during that time period to the FBI.
Fox News Digital first reported in March that federal investigators had asked the bank to search and exfiltrate. customer transactions It used words like “MAGA” and “Trump” as part of the investigation. Jan. 6 September 2021 Riots at the Capitol warn buying “religious texts” could indicate “extremism.”
Rioters loyal to then-President Trump stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 1. September 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
The committee also received documents indicating officials advised banks to search transactions with keywords such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops and others.
A source familiar with the document told Fox News Digital at the time that while Jan. 1, No. 6 was “the impetus” for inquiries and searches, None of the documents received by the committee reveal any specific time frames or limits for banks seeking to qualify customer transactions. Sources said the central government used the information for investigations after January 1, 2016.
“In the days and weeks following January 6, 2021, the FBI coordinated with the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. To encourage financial institutions across the country to review their data and file SARs for hundreds of Americans. If not more than that with no clear criminal nexus,” the report said.
At the time, Bank of America told Fox News that it “strictly complies with all applicable laws and regulatory requirements to receive, evaluate, process, protect, and respond to law enforcement requests.”
Documents obtained by the committee reveal that at least one financial institution reached out to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). with the idea of “Support the Office’s efforts to address the acute threat of domestic terrorism.”
Rioters loyal to then-President Trump stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 1. September 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
“Financial institutions encourage FinCEN to use SARs as the basis for issuing Patriot Act 314(a) requests, which allows FinCEN to ‘aggregate national financial institution data to obtain potential lead information’ from ‘more than 37,000 contact points. points across more than 16,000 financial institutions to search for accounts and transactions of individuals that may be involved in terrorism or money laundering.”
FEDS Bank recommends transaction search terms like ‘BIDEN,’ ‘ANTIFA’ and more after Jan. 6: source
After such discovery The panel continues to investigate the matter and has received more than 48,000 pages of documents, noting that the information they received through the investigation is “worrying”.
“Documents show that federal law enforcement agencies are increasingly working with financial institutions. By receiving unchecked access to personal financial information. and test new methods and new technologies to continue the financial surveillance of American citizens,” the report said.
However, the committee cautions that “Every American should be bothered by this collection method. Their financial information, which is collected, is made accessible. and searched by federal and state officials. including law enforcement and regulatory agencies.”
“With the rise of e-commerce and the widespread adoption of cash alternatives such as credit cards or peer-to-peer payment services, The future will leave little financial activity beyond the reach of modern financial institutions or the prying eyes of governments,” the report states. “This is because, as a condition of participation in the modern economy, Americans are forced to reveal details about their private lives to a financial industry that is all too eager to pass this information on to federal law enforcement.”
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The report said that the committee’s investigation “It makes clear that federal law enforcement agencies have taken advantage of this dynamic by using financial institutions as federal law enforcement agencies. It orders financial institutions to conduct background checks on Americans using a format that is published or encouraged to be provided by financial institutions. ‘Suspicious’ activities in which a person may be involved.”
The committee warned that “If there are no improved preventive measures, The federal government and financial institutions will continue to suck up Americans’ sensitive financial information. Send it into the hands of government officials. and erodes what remains of financial privacy in the United States.”
The FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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