this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2025
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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.

top 22 comments
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[–] Yawweee877h444@lemmy.world 45 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Charge them with what?

conspiracy to defraud the United States

groups like Habitat for Humanity

Well, habitat for humanity is a very Christian organization. On the bright side maybe this will piss off many of trumps voters.

[–] IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works 46 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nah, it won't piss off any of them. They'll do whatever mental gymnastics they have to keep their worldview intact.

[–] Souroak@lemmy.sdf.org 11 points 1 year ago

If they even hear about it.

[–] Chozo@fedia.io 32 points 1 year ago

Trump is still livid that Jimmy Carter's death had the flags at half staff for the inauguration. This is just revenge for ruining a photo op.

[–] ploot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Isn't it an organization that actually helps people in need? That's not the kind of Christianity the MAGA people are into.

[–] MintyFresh@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

The fucking yall'iban

[–] goldenquetzal@lemmy.world 40 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you read further, Dept of Treasury and EPA had Citibank freeze their bank accounts and take the money back. The court docs from one of the groups filing against Citibank said they had no standing bc Citibank was cooperating with government orders. So this is how the asset seizures and bank freezes begin along with murdering efforts to save our planet.

[–] stickly@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

But I was told a judge could stop any bad guy if he banged his gavel hard enough! He has a magic asset freeze gun that cripples fascists! Now you're telling me the people in charge of the treasury can do literally whatever they want?

shocked_pikachu.mp4

[–] lka1988@sh.itjust.works 25 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] ploot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 29 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] Aermis@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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?

[–] PointyReality@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

If you google Habitat for Humanity and read their mission statement then it’s obvious the real reason particularly when you get to the last past.

https://www.habitat.org/about/climate-change-position

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 19 points 1 year ago

Whatever they feel like. Remember them talking about weaponization of the justice system? Yeah, that was them telegraphing their moves.

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 24 points 1 year ago

Now the real Nazi witch hunts start.

[–] Bridger@sh.itjust.works 20 points 1 year ago

Luigi showed us the way.

[–] treadful@lemmy.zip 18 points 1 year ago

The complete callousness of it all is somehow still surprising.

[–] sleezer@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

I knew Trump's corrupt DOJ was going to start doing some unethical nonsense but this is just evil

[–] DragonAce@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

[–] theLaLiLuLeLol@kbin.earth 2 points 1 year ago
[–] griff@lemmings.world 2 points 1 year ago

FBI now infected with Choke Mind Virus

[–] swampwitch@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Just put the whole government in the bin at this point.