Banks close accounts, slam doors on Jan. 6 rioters; feds accused of terrorist treatment

People prosecuted for low-level felonies and misdemeanors such as trespassing and disorderly conduct for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol say they have been blacklisted by banks and shut out of social media fundraising services.

These defendants say they have been treated like “domestic terrorists” despite convictions of relatively low-level crimes. What’s more, an attorney for defendants blames the FBI and Justice Department for prodding financial institutions to treat them like domestic terrorists.

Derrick Evans, a former West Virginia lawmaker who served three months in prison for one felony count of civil disorder, said JPMorgan Chase & Co. shut down his accounts after giving him a terrifying ultimatum. The bank sent him letters telling him that he and his wife had 30 days to empty their accounts before Chase closed the accounts.

“Getting de-banked is one of the worst experiences a person could go through. All of your auto payments cease, and you are scrambling to find a new bank so you can rejoin society,” Mr. Evans told The Washington Times.

Chase would not comment when The Times inquired about closing Mr. Evans’ accounts.