Staff Reports
In a shocking turn of events, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) has gone and subpoenaed Bank of America (BoA). Why, you ask? Well, because BoA apparently thought it was just fine and dandy to share American banking information with the FBI without any legal process. Can you believe the nerve of these big banks? They think they can just go around handing over our private financial data like it’s no big deal.
The Judiciary Committee revealed that BoA willingly handed over a list of individuals who made transactions in the D.C. area using a BoA debit or credit card between January 5 and 7, 2021. That’s right, they just handed that info right on over to the FBI without even being asked. Talk about overstepping boundaries!
And get this, the FBI’s then-Section Chief of the Domestic Terrorism Operations Section, Steven Jensen, admitted to grabbing the BoA information without any allegations of federal criminal conduct. So, basically, the FBI was just fishing for info without any real reason. It’s like they were on a wild goose chase for trouble where there was none to be found.
Jim Jordan Subpoenas Bank of America over Giving Americans’ Bank Info to FBI After January 6 https://t.co/jBVeocSiax
— Fred Johnson (@FredJoh26842729) November 17, 2023
But here’s the real kicker: Bank of America had the audacity to claim that they followed all applicable laws in their interactions with the Trump Administration’s Treasury Department and law enforcement. Yeah, right! It seems like they’re just trying to cover their tracks after getting caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
Not to mention, this isn’t the first time Jordan has had to step in. He also subpoenaed Citibank to investigate the extent to which financial institutions have been cozying up to the FBI and collecting Americans’ financial data. It’s like these big banks think they can just play fast and loose with our privacy without any consequences.
In response to this blatant disregard for privacy, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) rightly called out BoA’s actions as “victimization at scale.” And that’s exactly what it is – a slap in the face to every hardworking American who trusts these banks with their financial information.
It’s high time we hold these big banks accountable for their shady dealings with the FBI. Americans deserve to have their financial privacy protected, and it’s about time someone stood up and said enough is enough. Kudos to Chairman Jordan for taking the lead in shining a bright light on this outrageous behavior.
