DOJ subpoenas major U.S. banks for info on 'debanking', political account closures

The Department of Justice this week sent subpoenas to several major U.S. banks for information on allegedly politically motivated account closures, also known as "debanking."

Among the recipients of the subpoenas were Bank of America and J.P. Morgan, the Wall Street Journal reported. The office of U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro issued the demands for information.

Pirro specifically requested that the banks list the names of individuals who allegedly faced "debanking" and to explain the rationale behind the account closures.

Debanking has become a prominent political topic in recent years. President Donald Trump claimed to have faced politically motivated account closures in 2025 while UK politician Nigel Farage settled a high-profile debanking dispute against him in that country that began in 2023.

Fears of censorship across various institutions have prompted conservatives to increasingly embrace alternatives to mainstream institutions that explicitly cater to free speech. In the tech realm, companies like Rumble and Truth Social have emerged as alternatives to YouTube and other social media platforms, respectively.

Conservative-leaning mobile providers have also sprung up, while financial institutions such as Old Glory Bank have attracted attention.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.