Federal investigators asked banks to search customer transactions for terms like “Trump” or “MAGA” and purchases at stores including Dick’s Sporting Goods and Bass Pro Shops after the Capitol riot, shocking Republican investigations’ claims
- Federal officials investigating on Jan. 6 asked banks to filter customer transactions, including key terms like “MAGA” and “Trump”
- The government has been ‘surveilling’ Americans who visit Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s and other outdoor stores that sell guns
- The Treasury Department also warned banks against “extremism” indicators such as the purchase of a religious text such as a Bible
- Top Republican Jim Jordan says the transactions have “no apparent criminal connection” and demands information from the Treasury Department
Federal investigators asked U.S. banks to search customer transactions for key terms like “MAGA” and “Trump” in the wake of Jan. 6 to identify “extremism,” according to shocking details uncovered by Republicans.
According to bombshell documents obtained by the House Armaments Committee led by Speaker Jim Jordan, the federal government has “observed” Americans who visit outdoor stores that sell guns – or who are religious.
Treasury Department officials suggested that banks review transactions at sporting and recreational goods stores such as Cabela’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Bass Pro Shops to “identify customers whose transactions could reflect ‘potential active shooters.’
In addition, officials warned banks about indicators of “extremism” such as purchasing a bus or plane ticket “for travel to areas without a clear purpose” or purchasing a religious text such as a Bible, documents show.
According to Jordan, the terms “MAGA” and “Trump” were also suggested by the department to search in Zelle payments.
Federal investigators suggested that banks use search terms like “MAGA” and “Trump” to identify purchases that could be linked to “extremism”
Transport costs for travel to areas without a clear purpose can be an indicator of ‘extremism’, according to the letter
Subscriptions to news media with “extremist” views would also be an indicator of financial instructions to watch, according to the material provided to banks by the Treasury Department.
“Did you shop at Bass Pro Shop or buy a Bible yesterday? If so, the federal government may be watching you,” Jordan wrote on X.
“We now have federally flagged terms like ‘MAGA’ and ‘TRUMP’ for financial institutions when Americans complete transactions using those terms,” he wrote in another message. “Whatever was marked? If you have purchased a religious text, such as a BIBLE, or shopped at Bass Pro Shop.”
The federal officials may have illegally provided financial institutions with suggested search terms to “identify transactions on behalf of federal law enforcement,” Jordan said.
DailyMail.com has contacted the Treasury for comment.
Jordan is also demanding information from a Treasury Department official, Noah Bishoff, after the alarming documents came to light.
“Despite the fact that these transactions have no apparent criminal connection – and in fact involve Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights – it appears that the Treasury Department has characterized these Americans as potential threat actors,” Jordan wrote.
Purchases at Bass Pro Shops can also be an indicator of extremism
The committee also obtained documents showing that officials suggested banks request purchases using keywords such as “Dick’s Sporting Goods.”
“This type of pervasive financial surveillance, conducted in coordination with and at the request of federal law enforcement, on Americans’ private transactions is alarming and raises serious questions about (the Treasury Department’s) respect for fundamental freedoms.”
“In other words, (the Treasury Department) urged major financial briefs to search their clients’ private transactions for suspicious allegations based on protected political and religious speech,” the commission’s letter to Bishoff said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday called the revelation “yet another egregious example of the weaponized federal government targeting conservatives.”
Republicans are also asking that Bishoff appear before the committee for a transcribed interview by Jan. 31.