DOJ's 'Operation Choke Point' May Be Root of Porn Star Bank Account Closings

Reason Hit & Run ^ | April 29, 2014 | Elizabeth Nolan Brown

[GrootheWanderer]

Despite being in good financial standing, adult film performers and others in the porn industry have had bank accounts abruptly terminated—and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) may have had something to do with it.

Under "Operation Choke Point," the DOJ and its allies are going after legal but subjectively undesirable business ventures by pressuring banks to terminate their bank accounts or refuse their business. The very premise is clearly chilling—the DOJ is coercing private businesses in an attempt to centrally engineer the American marketplace based on it's own politically biased moral judgements. Targeted business categories so far have included payday lenders, ammunition sales, dating services, purveyors of drug paraphernalia, and online gambling sites.

[Hugin]

Government doesn’t need a reason to expand control over everything. They don’t have to do it for ideological reasons. It’s just the nature of government.

[muir_redwoods]

We should open a bank called “Guns and Ho’ses”

[PowderMonkey]

"Exactly how does the government get the authority to force banks not to do business with those engaged in legal activities?"

Bank examiners, tax audits, federal "investigations" of any kind, I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. And, it doesn't necessarily have to go after the institution itself. Simply by targeting a few of its key managers, "cooperation" is assured. Instantly. Noticed how many of them have been jumping off buildings and dangling from ropes lately? Blackmail. It's a bitch. And then you die.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”I can see good coming out of this. Liberals HAVE to have their porn to feed their depravity.”

I don't see how porn makes $$$ anymore with the internet and built in vid cams on every phone and computer..

not to mention free porn sharing websites that distribute their *work* for free (ironically the government seems to support them in copyright law enforcement)

[Hugin]

It’s long been the wet dream of statists (including some characterized as “conservative”) to do away with cash altogether, and force people to use debit cards for everything. Then they can see what everyone spends their money on, and destroy you by just shutting down your account.

[knittnmom]

Interesting. While I have no pity for the payday loan companies, the precept this displays is chilling.

[Louis Foxwell]

Banks exist at the whim of the feds. They are req1uired to provide every detail of every transaction, every detail of every investor and customer, every account and every act in which they are involved. Failure to comply results in regulators shuttering the bank.
Banking is legalized stealing. The cash flow makes compliance with the devil an acceptable cost of doing business.

[Lockbox]

An interesting result is that it will be difficult for the IRS to determine the correct taxes for these businesses. If no funds go into a bank and the business only takes cash, well records can be hard to come bye.

Of course if it was my business I would just call it a Gay Bath House, provide a free membership to Obama and Rahm and explain to the bank that our members also like to make Poro Films.

[BobL]

It’s one thing to go after gun-related businesses, but ANOTHER THING ENTIRELY to go after adult businesses.

I have a feeling they’re going to soon regret that approach.

[equaviator]

“DOJ’s ‘Operation Choke Point’ May Be Root of Porn Star Bank Account Closings”

Could it be because the vast majority of pornography depicts heterosexual behavior?

[longfellow]

Look at the sleazy dems. With the kluntons you don’t need porn.

[MrEdd]

This is counter productive towards reaching that goal.

[DaveA37]

“How long until they apply this to guns owners, gun dealers, gun manufacturers, etc.”..

I thought that before I finished reading the article. I think this is a “trail run” by the DOJ to see how everything goes before the “main event”.

[baddog 219]

Tell me again that we live in a free nation?
Wake up people!

[M Kehoe]

Hi.

How long until they apply this to guns owners, gun dealers, gun manufacturers, etc.

Bingo. Only took two posts too.

5.56mm

[unixfox]

Keep pushing fellas. CWII is just around the corner.

F U B O!

[Drew68]

I don't see how porn makes $$$ anymore with the internet and built in vid cams on every phone and computer..

It's mystifying, isn't it?

Rolling Stone just did an article on Belle Knox, the now infamous Duke University porn star. The article mentioned she gets paid $1200 a shoot plus free airfare to the locations. Yet you can google her name and see all of her work without paying a dime. Who's making money on this stuff besides, apparently, Belle Knox?

[Lazamataz]

Exactly how does the government get the authority to force banks not to do business with those engaged in legal activities?

The Feral Government has dispensed with 'authority to act', and simply acts.

[skinkinthegrass]

It's just NOT their porn..(Queer) Lenin AND (Queer) Stalin pole-dancing
to "a beat", Mao-tse (Drums) and Pol-Pot (Tambourine) in trashy cross-
dress clothing in high heels, no less.
Can't you hear "the Beat" from Washington?

[GraceG]

” How long until they apply this to guns owners, gun dealers, gun manufacturers, etc. “

I thought they were already effectively doing this....