The Freezing Of Bank Accounts Has Begun

[Mr.WeRP]

https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/citibank-freeze-accounts-climate-grants-epa-fbi-rcna196305

Citibank says FBI “recommended” that it freeze the accounts of climate grant recipients

New documents in a legal filing from Citibank may shine light on the Trump administration’s anti-climate crusade.

In Wednesday’s court filing, the bank said it had temporarily frozen the accounts of climate grant recipients at the FBI’s recommendation. Citibank said it had been informed by the federal government that the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which issued the grants, was “subject to an ongoing criminal investigation.” This fund was authorized in 2022 through the Inflation Reduction Act and received $27 billion in funding.

Love that they “recommended” the bank do this. Sounds like mobster talk…

“We recommend you, da bank, freeze deez accounts or something baaad might happen to your nice bank here.”

[Think. Again.]

1. I wonder if citibank has opened itself up to lawsuits...

...since it froze those accounts of it's own accord and without any evidence of illegal activity or fraud.

That seems to be why the FBI "recommended" the freezes, instead of ordering the freezes, which protects the FBI from lawsuits for freezing the accounts based only on an investigation without evidence or conviction of illegal activity or fraud.

[NotHardly]

2. Yes, yes they did.

[live love laugh]

4. Not if "the government" recommends it.

[Think. Again.]

9. I'm not sure a "recommendation" transfers liability.

[oldmanlynn]

3. The bank should fight back and say not unless there's a court order

or if I was the climate fund group, I would sue the bank.

[Cirsium]

5. Lawsuits

Lawsuits are so 20th century.

Jackboots are what counts now, not lawsuits.

[B.See]

7. Precisely.

[dchill]

6. Mobster talk - it's their go-to. Even the lawyers.

It's all they've got. So far, it's enough. Why is that?

[lindysalsagal]

8. Bring in the next judge.