Yesterday we learned about the arrest of a career #FinCEN employee. Her career supervisor at FinCEN was named as an unindicted co-conspirator. I worked w both of them briefly from 2015-16. If they did share SARs, I’m very sorry to hear that. The leaking of intel - including /1
Including financial intel through financial records - to reporters fundamentally harms the government’s ability to protect the United States. Sharing financial intelligence from within the government destroys trust between Treasury & the private sector. Specifically, the leaks /2
jeopardize the US’s ability to ensure that financial institutions continue to proactively share info evidencing suspicious financial transactions to help the federal government ferret out terrorism financing and money laundering activities. And leaks make our law enforcement /3
partners in other countries wary to share sensitive intel with the US. In addition, leaks - like susceptibility to hacking - promote distrust in government institutions. I have no idea why the 2 employees would have done this, other than possibly thinking they were patriots. /4
But regardless of their reasons, they put themselves in danger for a reporter & and may have taken risks that make us all less safe as well as create the appearance that the US is not reliable in preserving intel. It feels like a sad place to be for them & all of us. /END
