In the latest example of big tech colluding with the federal government, a whistleblower has accused Bank of America of inappropriately sharing its customers’ banking information with the FBI to aid in investigations related to the January 6 Capitol riot.
Retired FBI National Security Intelligence Supervisor George Hill testified in February to the House Judiciary Committee that Bank of America provided the FBI with a list of all customers who made transactions in or around Washington D.C. between January 5-7, 2021, without any directive from the FBI. According to Hill, Bank of America also prioritized customers who had purchased firearms using their Bank of America accounts.
The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government is currently investigating allegations of civil liberties abuses by executive branch agencies, including the FBI’s handling of the January 6 riot.
Chairman Jim Jordan has received “dozens” of complaints from FBI whistleblowers since President Biden took office, and Hill is one of three whistleblowers to testify before the committee this year.
The Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have accused Hill of providing unreliable testimony about Bank of America, claiming that he had no knowledge of the origins of the evidence and had only seen FBI communication about it.
However, Hill was clear in his testimony that he saw FBI communication about the Bank of America list, even though he did not physically see the list itself.
Democrats have also attempted to discredit Hill’s testimony by highlighting his perceived bias, citing tweets he wrote after leaving the FBI in which he called the January 6 riot a “set up” and referred to it as “insurrection.”
Bank of America has not responded to requests for comment on the matter, and questions about the legality of its actions remain open. The FBI has responded to the issue, stating that it follows the law and the facts and will never open an investigation based solely on First-Amendment protected activity.
