Senator Tim Scott pressed Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen over reports that federal officials instructed banks to provide customer data of transactions flagged with terms like “TRUMP” or “MAGA,” as part of an investigation into the January 6 riot.
Scott raised concerns about privacy violations and targeting of U.S. citizens’ constitutional rights.
He also questioned the Treasury Department’s role in soliciting private financial data and the targeting of religious texts and sporting goods store shoppers in the federal investigation.
“These allegations, if true, represent a flagrant violation of Americans’ privacy and the improper targeting of U.S. citizens for exercising their constitutional rights without due process,” Scott wrote.
“These allegations are particularly concerning given past efforts to weaponize the financial system and payment activity against politically disfavored, lawful activity.”
Under the Obama- administration’s ‘Operation Choke Point’ initiative, the Department of Justice (DOJ) coordinated with federal financial regulators to intimidate financial institutions into denying services to legitimate businesses that the administration was ideologically opposed to, including gun retailers,” Scott said.
Notably, the letter requested an interview with a former FinCEN director to discuss safeguards for constitutional liberties and coordination with the private sector.
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