cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/26744790
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/26743463
The FBI is moving to criminalize groups like Habitat for Humanity for receiving grants from the Environmental Protection Agency under the Biden administration.
Citibank revealed in a court filing Wednesday that it was told to freeze the groups’ bank accounts at the FBI’s request. The reason? The FBI alleges that the groups are involved in “possible criminal violations,” including “conspiracy to defraud the United States.”
“The FBI has told Citibank that recipients of EPA climate grants are being considered as potentially liable for fraud. That is, the Trump administration wants to criminalize work on climate science and impacts,” the @capitolhunters account wrote Wednesday on X. “An incoming administration not only cancels federal grants but declares recipients as criminals. All these grantees applied under government calls FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK, were reviewed and accepted. Trump wants to jail them.“
The Appalachian Community Capital Corporation, the Coalition for Green Capital, and the DC Green Bank are just some of the nonprofits being targeted.
“This is not fraud. This is targeted harassment,” @capitolhunters continued. “The idea of criminalizing community climate work wouldn’t have originated at the FBI—it likely comes from EPA director Lee Zeldin, who today cut all EPA’s environmental justice offices, which try to reduce pollution in poor and minority communities.”
Zeldin’s order eliminates 10 EPA regional offices as well as the headquarters in Washington, D.C.
FOR FUCKING WHAT???
They’re saying receiving EPA climate grants from the US Government constitutes defrauding the government. These grants were offered by the US Government specifically to help organizations do environmental work, but the Trump regime claims that accepting the grant you applied for, and using it for its intended purpose, is criminal fraud.
I’m not approving of this action, but what environmental work is habitat for humanity doing? Isn’t it like a good will for home construction and furnishing?
Whatever they feel like. Remember them talking about weaponization of the justice system? Yeah, that was them telegraphing their moves.