Response to News Stories About Treasury Program (Swift)

Washington, D.C. – “The FBI participates in this lawful program that provides initial, lead information involving individuals or groups who might pose a threat to the U.S. When the FBI receives this lead information, we begin normal investigative steps based on legal process to determine whether the subject of the lead information poses a threat to national security. If so, efforts are directed at disrupting that threat.

The obligation to detect and prevent another terrorist attack against the United States is one that requires the ability to gather intelligence or evidence secretly. The more the terrorists know about how we accomplish that, the less likely it is these measures will be effective. These broad and detailed disclosures are unfortunate.”