Columbia Standard

Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, is demanding answers from the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) following reports of political targeting and infringement on Americans' privacy.

In a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and FinCEN Director Andrea Gacki, Senator Scott expressed his concerns and requested answers regarding the Department of Treasury and FinCEN's involvement in the reported soliciting of personal financial data. He stated, "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."

According to recent news reports, the Treasury provided materials to financial institutions instructing them to search and filter American's transaction-level financial data using specific keywords, search terms, and merchant category codes (MCC) to aid federal law enforcement in identifying persons of interest. These instructions allegedly included searching Zelle payment messages for politically charged terms such as "Trump" and "MAGA," as well as transactions that could indicate the legal purchase of a firearm.

Senator Scott emphasized that such actions by the federal government to target individuals and entities based on their political views are a blatant and egregious violation of the Constitution. He also highlighted the impact these reported actions have on the confidence in federal law enforcement and the independence of federal financial regulators.

The senator's demand for answers comes in the wake of growing concerns about the potential misuse of personal financial data and the infringement on privacy rights. These reports raise significant questions regarding the balance between national security and individual liberties.

It is essential for the Department of Treasury and FinCEN to address these allegations and provide transparency to the American public. Upholding the principles of privacy and due process is crucial in maintaining the trust and confidence of the American people in their government and financial institutions.

Senator Scott's letter serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting privacy rights and ensuring that law enforcement agencies operate within the boundaries of the Constitution.