JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has rejected claims that the bank engages in politically motivated “debanking,” saying the firm does not target customers based on their political views and only acts under strict legal and regulatory obligations.
His remarks come as fresh accusations from political and crypto figures keep the debate over bank account closures at the center of U.S. financial and political scrutiny.
Operation Chokepoint 2.0 Debate Flares as Dimon Defends JPMorgan
Dimon addressed the issue during an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” where host Maria Bartiromo asked him about allegations from Devin Nunes, the CEO of Trump Media Group.
Nunes previously claimed that Trump Media’s bank records were subpoenaed during the federal investigation into President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and suggested the company was effectively debanked.
Dimon rejected the political framing of the claim, saying JPMorgan follows government subpoenas when required but does not close accounts based on political affiliation.
He emphasized that the bank’s actions are guided by federal law and regulatory expectations, not ideology.
The comments arrive against the backdrop of wider political tension over access to banking services, especially for crypto firms, conservative figures, and controversial industries.
The debate intensified in November after Strike CEO Jack Mallers said JPMorgan abruptly closed his personal accounts without explanation.
Mallers said the bank cited “concerning activity” under the Bank Secrecy Act while refusing to provide specific details.
Mallers’ disclosure reignited concern over what the crypto industry calls “Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” an alleged extension of the Obama-era initiative that discouraged banks from serving high-risk sectors.
Crypto executives and Republican lawmakers argue that the modern version has been used to quietly restrict crypto firms’ access to the U.S. banking system.
Democrats and regulators have repeatedly denied that such a coordinated campaign exists, saying enforcement actions are driven by anti-money-laundering and fraud risks.
Trump Allies, Lawmakers Clash With Banks as Debanking Probes Continue
The issue took on new political weight after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in August intended to prevent financial institutions from denying services solely on the basis of crypto-related activity.
After Mallers went public, Bo Hines, a former adviser to Trump’s digital assets council and now a strategic adviser to Tether, publicly criticized JPMorgan, suggesting that the end of Operation Chokepoint had not translated into meaningful change on the ground.
Trump has previously said he was personally affected by debanking due to his politics, while his son Eric Trump has also claimed that several major banks cut ties with the family at the end of Trump’s first term.
Other conservative figures, including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and several religious and nonprofit groups, have made similar claims.
At the same time, Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns that some account closures disproportionately affect Muslim Americans and minority communities due to broad “de-risking” policies.
Regulators and banks continue to maintain that these decisions are based on compliance demands.
Under U.S. law, banks are required to monitor customer activity, report suspicious transactions, and comply with subpoenas under frameworks such as the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money-laundering rules.
Banks argue that failure to do so exposes them to severe penalties.
Dimon, during the same Fox News appearance, also addressed broader economic and national security issues, including JPMorgan’s newly launched $1.5 trillion security and resiliency investment initiative and the bank’s cautious approach to China-related business.
However, his comments on debanking drew the most immediate political attention. The controversy continues as congressional investigations remain active.
Republican lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee previously released a report alleging that dozens of crypto firms and individuals lost banking access under regulatory pressure.
Federal agencies have pushed back, saying supervision is risk-based, not political.
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