A Trump Presidency Could Make U.S. The ‘Crypto Capital Of The Planet’

In stark contrast to the Biden-Harris administration’s approach toward cryptocurrency, Trump’s platform would invigorate the crypto industry and promote its growth.

Bank of America hit with $250 million in penalties after allegedly denying customers promised cash rewards, double-charging them, and damaging their credit scores



Federal regulators are penalizing Bank of America to the tune of $250 million for allegedly taking advantage of customers.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Tuesday that the bank will pay over $100 million to the consumers who were adversely impacted and another $150 million in penalties to the CFPB and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The bank has been accused of "systematically double-dipping on fees imposed on customers with insufficient funds in their account, withholding reward bonuses explicitly promised to credit card customers, and misappropriating sensitive personal information to open accounts without customer knowledge or authorization."

CFPB director Rohit Chopra said in a statement, "These practices are illegal and undermine customer trust. The CFPB will be putting an end to these practices across the banking system."

The OCC similarly determined that the bank's double-dipping on fees was illegal.

As a result, the bank is required to pay $90 million in penalties to the CFPB and another $60 million to the OCC.

Bank of America had a policy whereby customers would be hit with a $35 charge if they had a transaction declined on account of insufficient funds in their account. With the alleged objective of harvesting junk fees, the bank would allow fees to be repeatedly charged for the same interactions and did so over a period of multiple years, according to the CFPB.

While allegedly double-dipping, the bank has also been accused of signing up tens of thousands of customers on false promises of cash rewards and points, then failing to follow through.

The CFPB's and OCC's penalties also reflect an alleged long-standing scheme undertaken by Bank of America employees that damaged customers' credit scores.

Since 2012, employees seeking to cut corners in order to hit incentive goals and satisfy evaluation criteria are said to have illegally used consumers' credit reports without their consent to apply for and enroll in credit card accounts. Although the bank employees appear to have benefited, the customers whose information was illegally used without their knowledge "were charged unjustified fees, suffered negative effects to their credit profiles, and had to spend time correcting errors."

Axios reported that while ostensibly different in scope, the details of this scandal are reminiscent of what Wells Faro was accused of in 2016.

Wells Fargo ended up agreeing in February 2020 to pay a $3 billion fine to settle the resultant civil lawsuit and to resolve a criminal prosecution filed by the Department of Justice, after it was discovered that bank employees opened millions of savings and checking accounts in the names of extant customers without their consent, reported NBC News.

The CFPB stressed that Bank of America has a long history of ripping off customers, having been forced to cough up $727 million to its victims for illegal credit card practices in 2014 and a fine of $225 million last year for "wrongfully freezing accounts" at the height of the pandemic.

This time around, Bank of America has been ordered to compensate the victims of the "unlawful non-sufficient fund fees who have not already been made whole by the bank." This approximate total is $80.4 million in consumer redress.

Customers owed bonuses who have not yet been compensated will similarly be made whole.

A CFPB spokesman told MarketWatch that customers affected by these alleged abuses don't have to do anything to get what's owed them.

"Depending on the circumstances of the consumer, Bank of America will deposit funds into the consumer's deposit account or will send the consumer a check," said the spokesman.

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If Connecticut And Washington Democrats Get Their Way, Voting Will Become Mandatory

Democrats in Washington and Delaware have introduced bills that seek to force all eligible residents to vote.

Judge orders far-left Portland official — who earns over $127K annually — to pay up on defaulted credit card accounts after she failed to appear in court



A judge in Multnomah County, Oregon, ruled that Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty — who earns more than $127,000 annually — must pay a credit card company more than $16,000 in overdue debts and fees after she failed to appear in court, KPTV-TV reported.

The far-left official has been a controversial figure in city politics. Having joined the bleating chorus calling for defunding police in 2020 — and specifically saying Portland cops should be pulled from 911 calls that don't involve crimes — Hardesty called 911 on a Lyft driver for canceling her ride late that year. Afterward she blamed her fear of "white supremacists" for her actions, despite residing in a far-left mecca.

What are the details on the judge's ruling?

Circuit Judge Judith Matarazzo issued default orders earlier this month on the heels of lawsuits Bank of America filed in November, KPTV said. Hardesty defaulted on two credit card accounts, the station said, citing documents.

In the first case, Matarazzo on March 21 approved a $4,900 lien against Hardesty, KPTV said, adding that an $11,700 penalty followed in a second case three days later.

The station said documents show neither Hardesty nor a legal representative appeared in court over the matter.

KPTV added that Portland budget filings show Hardesty made a six-figure salary over the last three years as an elected commissioner; the 2022-23 city budget shows Hardesty will make $127,712 this year.

Anything else?

In a matter allegedly related to Hardesty's defund-the-police push, in December she sued the police union, its former president, and an officer for $5 million after being falsely linked to a hit-and-run crash, KPTV said in a separate story.

A motorist in March 2021 told police Hardesty hit her vehicle, and the suit claims then-Portland Police Association President Brian Hunzenker leaked the false allegation to other city employees and the media, the station said, adding that Hunzenker later resigned. The suit also claims Officer Kerri Ottoman spread the allegation to a political action committee, KPTV said.

Hardesty was ruled out as a suspect the day after the crash, the station reported, adding that police earlier this year called their actions a misunderstanding.

However, Hardesty’s attorney said the leaks were motivated by the commissioner’s race and her opposition to police practices, KPTV said.

(H/T: The Police Tribune)

Homeowner refuses to take down 3-story 'Trump Won,' 'Let's Go Brandon' banners despite mounting daily fines: 'People needed to see what I believe in'



For a man getting fined $50 a day for flying outlawed banners on his Florida panhandle home, the smile on Marvin Peavy's face is a curious phenomenon.

"I'm here on the beach, and I got a lot of traffic, and people needed to see what I believe in," a grinning Peavy told WMBB-TV. "That's free speech, and I wanted everyone to know that I'm a Republican and I'm supporting Donald Trump."

Image source: WMBB-TV video screenshot

Specifically, Peavy is incurring fines from Walton County Code Enforcement officials for each day he leaves up his three-story "Trump Won" and "Let's Go Brandon" banners that hang from a balcony on his Seagrove Beach residence, which the station said sits on the exclusive 30A road.

What are the details?

A compliance magistrate said at a code enforcement hearing last month that the "Trump Won" banner violates the county's land development code, WMBB reported.

Peavy's "Trump Won" banner went up in May, the station said, and he doubled down Saturday by hanging a "Let's Go Brandon" banner.

On Sunday a number of folks showed up in front of Peavy's house to support him, WMBB said.

Image source: WMBB-TV video screenshot

"People admire people that stand up, and we have got to start standing up," Bill Fletcher, chairman of the Walton County Republican Executive Committee, told the station. "He is the epitome of somebody who will stand up for his First Amendment right."

Image source: WMBB-TV video screenshot

"I had attended the code enforcement meeting when this was brought up," supporter Tabitha Howard added to WMBB, "and I was quite shocked when they said they were going to fine him $50 a day for a banner that's on his private property."

Image source: WMBB-TV video screenshot

What's the background?

Peavy initially flew a large Trump 2020 banner on his home last year, then took it down after President Joe Biden's inauguration, the station said.

Image source: WMBB-TV video screenshot

Walton County didn't take action against Peavy for that banner because it was up during an active election cycle, which is allowed under local code, WMBB reported.

Michael Lynch, a county code compliance official, added to the station that the land-use code preserves the visual structure of the peaceful beach vacation community and that banner content is irrelevant.

The banners are staying up

Whatever the case, Peavy told WMBB he has no plans to remove the banners — and what's more, he added that folks from all over the country have offered to pay the fines, including a Louisiana woman who said she'd pay the fines for the next two years.

If the code compliance magistrate once again finds Peavy in violation at the Nov. 17 hearing, the station said his fines will be due and will continue to accrue each day the banners remain up.

Flying American flags on July 4 costs restaurant owner $200 in fines: 'They want to bully you — they think you're gonna go away'



Terry Trobiani told WFLD-TV he just wanted to celebrate this past Fourth of July by placing two American flags on the front of Gianelli's, his hot dog and beef restaurant along Highway 176 in Prairie Grove, Illinois.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

But the celebration didn't last long.

"The next day the village administrator comes in, and he gives me a pamphlet of the sign ordinance pertaining to flags," Trobiani told the station. "He says, 'You might want to read this.'"

Image source: YouTube screenshot

What happened next?

Then one day later, Trobiani told WFLD the village issued him two tickets for "improper display" — both of which are now taped to his restaurant's front door.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

"I poked the bear, and they don't like it because they want to bully you," he noted to the station. "They think you're gonna go away."

But Trobiani said he has no intention of staying quiet.

"The American flag is a symbol of patriotism," he explained to WFLD. "It's not a sign. They're equating it with 'open/closed,' 'dine in/dine out,' the product that you serve in a restaurant."

Village president pushes back hard

But Prairie Grove Village President David Underwood told the station the tickets aren't a strike against Old Glory.

"I love the United States flag," Underwood noted to WFLD. "I'm a patriot myself."

He told the station Trobiani got ticketed because the flags were illegally too close to the road and could've blown into traffic.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

As for the restaurant owner's stance, Underwood called it "disgraceful" and told WFLD that Trobiani is "using the American flag as a tool to further his business interests."

Lots of support

But the restaurant owner noted to the station that he's getting hundreds of messages of support — and that crowds of people have shown up to Gianelli's to wave flags of their own.

"We had 50 people out here Saturday with trucks, horns, speakers, signs [saying] support small business, support the American flag," Trobiani recalled to WFLD.

Now what?

The station said the two ordinance violations total up to a $200 fine, but Trobiani declared that he's hired a lawyer and plans to fight the fines in municipal court next month — even if the fees cost him more what the tickets say he owes.

Illinois hot dog stand ticketed over American flag display

House Ethics Committee drops metal detector fines for No. 3 Dem and one GOP rep



The House Ethics Committee has dropped the hefty $5,000 fines imposed against No. 3 Democrat Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.) and Kentucky Republican Rep. Harold Rogers (Ky.) for allegedly skirting past metal detectors while entering the chamber, after both men disputed the accounts made by Capitol Police.

What are the details?

The committee revealed Thursday that the appeals of Clyburn, 80, and Rogers, 83, would be granted and neither of the lawmakers would be charged, but the panel did not provide an explanation for the decision.

The Hill noted that the committee is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, thus the majority opinion "indicates that the decisions regarding Clyburn and Rogers were bipartisan."

The Associated Press reported that both veteran congressmen had filed one-page letters "disputing the accusations" against them as reported by Capitol Police.

The committee was not as forgiving when it came to two other Republicans previously fined.

Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) were the first to be hit with such fines in February, but their appeals were both denied by the committee. GOP members argued at the time that Pelosi was seen skirting security, too, but she was never fined.

The Washington Examiner pointed out that "Clyburn's situation is similar to Gohmert, who said he walked to the House floor through a metal detector from one entrance and exited the floor briefly to use the same Speaker's Lobby restroom."

Gohmert was charged $5,000, while Clyde was fined $15,000 for two offenses. The Georgia lawmaker "said he plans to take the matter to federal court," Roll Call reported.

What's the background?

Following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, new security checkpoints were set up outside the doors entering the House chamber. After pushback from GOP members, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) imposed a $5,000 fine for a first offense of dodging the metal detectors, and a $10,000 penalty for a second offense.

Cops threaten expensive fines — for snowball fighting, sledding — amid strict COVID-19 lockdown in UK



Police in the United Kingdom are threatening to hand out £200 fines (about $275) for those who dare venture outdoors to enjoy the recent snowfall that reached half a foot in some places, the Mirror reported.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

And sledding or snowball fighting? That'll earn you a ticket from the sheriff of Nottingham, mate.

What are the details?

The paper said the snowfall attracted large outdoor crowds over the weekend, but police in London, Surrey, and Wiltshire warned winter revelers to not disobey COVID-19 lockdown rules even with members of their own households.

Cops in Swindon broke up a Sunday sledding soiree of 200 people at Coate Water Country Park, the Mirror said, and Surrey Police handed out £200 fines to two carloads of men "out looking at the snow."

The paper said Home Secretary Priti Patel and police have vowed to "get tougher on people flouting rules aimed at curbing the spread of the disease and saving lives."

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Government guidance says citizens can leave their residences for exercise but only once daily, the Mirror noted, adding that approved forms of exercise include but are not limited to running, cycling, walking, and swimming. When others are around, people must stay two meters apart from all those not in your household, the paper added.

Alarm bells ringing

"We are currently responding to reports of about 150 children and about 50 adults gathering in the Sevenfields area of Swindon and concerns have been raised that they are not abiding by the coronavirus guidelines," Swindon Police wrote Sunday on Facebook, the Mirror said. "Please do not gather in large groups — you are reminded that Fixed Penalty Notices may be issued to those who do not abide by the regulations. We are in the midst of a pandemic and failing to socially distance and wear face masks could aid the spread of the virus."

Wiltshire Police Inspector Louis McCoy on Sunday wrote, "I don't want to be dealing with [sledders] and snowball fights. There's still a lockdown on. Think about it; don't be tempted," the paper reported.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

The Surrey Police Roads Policing Unit said it fined two carloads of men who were out for a drive to and said they were "looking at the snow," the Mirror said.

"We stopped two cars that were traveling in convoy with each other in Guildford," the tweet read, according to the paper. "The cars contained four men, all from different households ... Four £200 COVID fines issued."

Surrey Police also tweeted: "We are currently receiving lots of calls and reports relating to snowballs being thrown and people outside [sledding]. Enjoy the snow today, but please don't involve other people, particularly more vulnerable residents. Please stay safe and remember that COVID regulations do still apply," the Mirror said.

Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit said it handed out fines after a family's car spun into a ditch, the paper reported, adding that "3 police cars, 2 ambulances, 1 doctor car, and 2 fire crews" were called, and that "tickets were issued."

The Mirror said officers in Merton, south London, wrote: "Sorry to be 'that grumpy relative,' but with the snow coming down the way it is, please drive carefully. And if you're going to have a snowball fight, please stick to your bubbles. Also do not eat yellow snow."

Not everyone took it well

There was some pushback against police interfering in the fun — and some figured officers might have better things to to:

  • "Any chance you could use the time when you're not stopping snowball fights and [sledding] to find my stolen car?" one person wrote back, the Mirror said.
  • Another asked, "So is taking the kids out sledging not exercise?" the paper noted.
  • "Do you think maybe it's about time the police stopped disgracing themselves by enforcing laws that don't actually exist?" another person asked, the Mirror reported.

UK enjoys blankets of snow ahead of wet weather returningyoutu.be

Atilis Gym says NJ 'emptied out every single dollar that we have' from bank account amid COVID-19 lockdown battle with state



The co-owner of lockdown-defying Atilis Gym said the state of New Jersey "emptied out every single dollar that we have" from gym's bank account amid a legal battle with the state over fines for breaking coronavirus-related rules for businesses.

What are the details?

Ian Smith appeared Thursday on Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight" and told the host that he and business partner Frank Trumbetti checked their bank statement Wednesday morning "and we had no money in our bank account. The state emptied out every single dollar that we have."

Smith on Wednesday tweeted that far-left New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) "and his cronies seized 100%" of the Bellmawr gym's "legal defense money" to the tune of $173,613.60. Smith added, "If you think that's gonna make us stand down, you're delusional." In a video tweet Thursday, Smith cited an amount of $165,000. The gym on Friday didn't immediately respond to TheBlaze's request for clarification on the dollar amount.

"This is in the middle of an appeals process and ongoing litigation in the matter of the fines and several other matters regarding the state, including a lawsuit against Governor Murphy and [State Health Commissioner] Judith Persichilli," Smith told Carlson, adding that "this is an interference with our right to counsel."

He added to the host that the money didn't come from memberships since Atilis hasn't charged members since April 1, 2020; rather it came from donations and T-shirt sales, which the owners used "to pay our bills and fight our legal battles."

Smith noted that the money seizure is a "blatant violation of our constitutional rights and our ability to defend ourselves in the court of law."

What did the state have to say?

A spokesman for the New Jersey attorney general's office told "Tucker Carlson Tonight" that the information Smith shared "is not accurate" and that "the state has not seized their bank account funds."

Instead, the spokesman said "the state has obtained judgments against the owners, and intends to collect on them. The total due and owing as a result of court-entered judgments to date is $134,463.08."

"Apparently the funds you reference were frozen as a result of a bank levy having been issued due to the state's collection efforts, which is part of the enforcement of a judicial order," the state is quoted to have said to "Tucker Carlson Tonight."

Now what?

When Carlson asked Smith what he and Trumbetti will do now that there's no money in their bank account, Smith said they will switch to a cash system.

"We will continue to fight this no matter what," he added to the host.

Carlson noted how ironic it is that the gym owners are "being punished for trying to keep people healthy and trim in the middle of a pandemic that kills people who are overweight and out of shape."

"You are doing more than [Gov. Murphy] has to save people's lives," the host added, "and, of course, you are being destroyed for it."

Smith in his Thursday video tweet said the state also is leveling a $15,497.76 daily fine for each day the gym stays open.

Gym owner who defied lockdowns claims state emptied entire bank account youtu.be

Anything else?

Atilis Gym has gained national attention amid its battle with New Jersey bureaucrats.

Nancy Pelosi proposes steep fines for House members who evade new metal detectors



House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Wednesday that the House will be considering a new rule that would impose hefty fines on lawmakers who refuse to comply with the added security measures put in place yesterday, after several Republican members dodged new metal detectors placed outside the chamber.

What are the details?

A number of GOP members were reportedly "furious" on Tuesday when they approached the House chamber and discovered they would need to pass through metal detectors manned by U.S. Capitol police officers in order to gain entry.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), made headlines earlier this month about bringing her own firearm into work, was the first to make waves with her refusal to comply with officers searching her bag before entry.

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) reacted to the new security checkpoints by tweeting, "For members of Congress to enter the floor of the U.S. House, we now have to go through intense security measures, on top of the security we already go through. These new provisions include searches and being wanded like criminals. We now live in [Nancy] Pelosi's communist America!"

The Hill reported that "ultimately, roughly 10 lawmakers were seen bypassing the detectors and walking into the chamber, raising questions as to the devices' efficacy, particularly given officers' hesitancy to restrain House members."

Following Wednesday's session where the House voted to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time, Pelosi revealed her plan to remedy GOP resistance to the metal detectors: a new rule to be considered by the Democrat-controlled chamber that would make noncompliance a costly protest.

The speaker said in a statement, "On behalf of the House, I express my deepest gratitude to the U.S. Capitol Police for the valor that they showed during the deadly insurrection on the Capitol, as they protected the lives of the staff and the Congress."

"Sadly, just days later, many House Republicans have disrespected our heroes by verbally abusing them and refusing to adhere to basic precautions keeping members of our Congressional community, including the Capitol Police, safe," she continued. "The House will soon move forward with a rule change imposing fines on those who refuse to abide by these protections. The fine for the first offense will be $5,000 and $10,000 for the second offense. The fines will be deducted directly from Members' salaries by the Chief Administrative Officer."

She concluded, "It is tragic that this step is necessary, but the Chamber of the People's House must and will be safe."