Deborah Koff Ross: “Want to thank Chairman Luetkemeyer for introducing this legislation which prohibits the Department of Justice from…”

“Want to thank Chairman Luetkemeyer for introducing this legislation which prohibits the Department of Justice from cutting off financial support to law-abiding businesses through its Operation Choke Point. Created under the guise of a program to root out banking fraud and money laundering, Operation Choke Point has morphed into an instrument used by administration bureaucrats to pressure and force banks to end relationships with the legitimate businesses the administration considers to be a ``reputational risk.'' This country is made up of all walks of lives and all walks of entrepreneurs and small businesses, yet this administration has targeted these small and legitimate businesses. I have a cigar retailer back home who was told by his bank that he could no longer do business there. I have a gun store owner who was told the same thing. I have a pawnshop that was told the same thing. These targeted business owners do not receive a note from the bank stating: ``Due to Operation Choke Point, we regretfully must end our financial relationship with your business.'' No. They are just discontinued from doing any banking relationship, without any notice whatsoever. If what we have done with the Department of Justice and the FDIC is empower them with the ability to deny a fundamental right of constitutional due process, then yes, we need to correct it. We have that obligation.…”