Authored by Joseph Lord via The Epoch Times,
Whistleblowers told Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee that gave Jan. 6 connected bank records to the FBI without customers’ knowledge or consent.
In their testimony, whistleblowers claimed that the FBI had become “enveloped in politicization” and made several claims of “serious abuses” over an extended period of time.
Among those abuses, whistleblowers said that Bank of America (BOA) had transferred information to the FBI on transactions that took place in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Customers were not informed of this data transfer.
Firearm Owners Targeted
Those who used their Bank of America accounts to purchase a firearm were reportedly bumped to the top of the list handed over to the FBI.
In a report released on May 18, Republicans revealed whistleblower testimony from retired FBI Supervisory Intelligence Analyst George Hill, who made the allegations.
“The Bank of America, with no directive from the FBI, data-mined its customer base,” Hill testified, saying that this data mining comprised transactions made between Jan. 5, 2021, and Jan. 7, 2021.
Specifically, they targeted transactions made in Washington or nearby counties in Maryland and Virginia.
Investigators asked Hill, “It’s anyone who used a Bank of America either debit or credit card to conduct a transaction?”
“Right,” Hill replied. “Any transaction. To buy a hot dog. Doesn’t matter.”
Hill then confirmed that those who had purchased a gun “at some point in time, any time” were bumped to the top of the list given to the FBI.
“This list was provided without any legal process to the FBI?”
“Correct,” Hill replied.
“So my understanding of the [FBI Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide] and amateur assessment based on law is that, you know, if a citizen sees a crime in commission, there’s nothing wrong with injecting that and opening up a case. But, to my knowledge, using a debit card in the District [of Columbia] does not provide adequate predication for the investigation of a crime.”
He alleged that “there was
no legal process asking for [the information]” and that Bank of America
had acted entirely on its own accord.
Bank of America gave a list to the FBI of anyone who used BofA credit/debit cards in the DC area between Jan 5-7th, 2021 - regardless of whether they participated in the events of Jan. 6th. pic.twitter.com/C0zBA1AGmy
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) May 18, 2023
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In their concluding commentary on the report, House Republicans called the testimony “highly alarming.”
“The FBI seemingly worked with a major financial institution to receive, without legal process, financial records about Americans … This invasion of the privacy of American citizens is highly concerning.”
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