Well this isn't sketchy *at all*! Mike Johnson claims never to have had a bank account

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sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
99,099
17,447
126
Overdraft risk with checking accounts, among other things.
There are literally millions of Americans who can't open a bank account due to bad credit or past performance.
Savings account do not carry that risk.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,158
4,916
136
I'm assuming that all members of congress have a clearance (this assumption could be wrong).

And if so, they have to report, annually, all of their accounts (bank, retirement, crypto, etc), loans, credit card balances, etc.

Whether it is interest bearing or not is irrelevant.

I served 20 years USN with a Top Secret Clearance and never reported any of my bank accounts, loans, credit card balances, etc to anyone as it was not required ...

Is this just for Congress or is this something new?
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,501
6,338
126
I served 20 years USN with a Top Secret Clearance and never reported any of my bank accounts, loans, credit card balances, etc to anyone as it was not required ...

Is this just for Congress or is this something new?
I have worked with a higher clearance and it is a lot more recent than you (based on your other posts) and I can assure you that you have to fill out an SFDF every year, due by May 15th, that includes exactly what I mentioned (and more).

And the balances I referred to, are what you had in your account on December 31st at the prior year, not when you are filling it out.

IE., your 401k balance on 12/31, your cc balances on 12/31, your bank accounts on 12/31, etc.

This is absolutely nothing new.

I would assume that Congress would require at least the level I worked with.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
87,413
54,101
136
Yeah it's totally believable that the Speaker of the US House of Representatives is living paycheck-to-paycheck in Louisiana on his $185k govt salary (with most expenses paid including 100% healthcare).
Don’t forget he also reported an additional $30k from liberty university.


This also doesn’t include anything earned by his wife, who apparently has two of her own income streams so we are probably talking in excess of $300k, potentially far more.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
87,413
54,101
136
I have worked with a higher clearance and it is a lot more recent than you (based on your other posts) and I can assure you that you have to fill out an SFDF every year, due by May 15th, that includes exactly what I mentioned (and more).

And the balances I referred to, are what you had in your account on December 31st at the prior year, not when you are filling it out.

IE., your 401k balance on 12/31, your cc balances on 12/31, your bank accounts on 12/31, etc.

This is absolutely nothing new.

I would assume that Congress would require at least the level I worked with.
Yes, this was true for me as well, and financial problems are one of the main reasons security clearances are denied/revoked as if you’re desperate for money you might do things you otherwise wouldn’t.
 
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kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
30,393
44,890
136
No evidence of a crime is a valid position. The guy could be dirty as Hunter Biden's crack pipe, but so far the only evidence is that he doesn't seem to have any money. I understand that because he's a repbublician his guilt is automatic, but the real world has different rules.

I always enjoy seeing you wave that lack of self-awareness around like some kind of flag. Great opener, terrific. Haha

The repugs are the party of insurrection and crime, and they have no one but themselves to blame for it. Going by the prosecutions success rate thus far maybe the victim routine isn't the best response? Just look at alll the plea deals. Tough luck man, the guy currently leading your party of grievance's destiny is a twice impeached insurrectionist and convicted sexual predator/fraud with 4 indictments and 91 felonies to his name. And yet, he is being afforded not just every protection under the law, he's getting vastly more consideration and protection, even outright assistance, than you or I would. If we talked shit about the judge or engaged in witness intimidation, what would happen? Can you at least be that honest?

Yes, different rules in the real world indeed. I'm glad to hear you finally acknowledge what the rest of us have known for sometime, now you just have to bring yourself to be honest about the context. I predict you won't. But I've seen you reference Hunter's substance abuse issues many times here. That issue being inside the White House didn't seem to bother you though, 'odd.' You and your ilk are who this meme was intended for it would seem.

kH01HPJ.jpeg


Reminders: Hunter was not involved in White House affairs and did not hold office. Projection is neither a legal defense nor proof of a crime.

But it's not just the ridiculous bullshit either. If the GQP isn't trying to warp the judicial system with paid for judges they're trying to obstruct justice, and intimidate witnesses. Go pound that victim bullshit up your ass man
 
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pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,158
4,916
136
I have worked with a higher clearance and it is a lot more recent than you (based on your other posts) and I can assure you that you have to fill out an SFDF every year, due by May 15th, that includes exactly what I mentioned (and more).

And the balances I referred to, are what you had in your account on December 31st at the prior year, not when you are filling it out.

IE., your 401k balance on 12/31, your cc balances on 12/31, your bank accounts on 12/31, etc.

This is absolutely nothing new.

I would assume that Congress would require at least the level I worked with.

I'm not arguing that you are wrong. Things have obviously changed since I retired in 1993.

Yet you say this is nothing new. Then is it just for more specific higher than Top Secret Clearances?
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,501
6,338
126
I'm not arguing that you are wrong. Things have obviously changed since I retired in 1993.

Yet you say this is nothing new. Then is it just for more specific higher than Top Secret Clearances?
No clue, but like I said, I'm assume people in Congress hold a higher clearance than anything I've ever had.

I mean ... they are in Congress.
 

JD50

Lifer
Sep 4, 2005
11,870
2,718
136
I served 20 years USN with a Top Secret Clearance and never reported any of my bank accounts, loans, credit card balances, etc to anyone as it was not required ...

Is this just for Congress or is this something new?
A lot of the financial disclosure rules have a changed over the last 10 years, I didn't have to report that stuff in the early aughts either, now we do.
 
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Paratus

Lifer
Jun 4, 2004
17,470
15,439
146
Yes, this was true for me as well, and financial problems are one of the main reasons security clearances are denied/revoked as if you’re desperate for money you might do things you otherwise wouldn’t.
I’m pretty sure for our background checks they required financial information.

More recently in years where I’ve had to provide input on contracts I’ve had to provide a very detailed report on all of my non-TSP (401k equivalent) holdings. Which is a huge pain for mutual funds and ETFs as the fund managers invest in dozens of them. Each holding has to be reported to make sure I’m not even indirectly invested in something related to the contract.
 

JD50

Lifer
Sep 4, 2005
11,870
2,718
136
Until someone comes up with evidence to the contrary, it's a valid position. Right now all we know is he seems to be living paycheck to paycheck.
Notice how you didn't answer my question? What do you think is more likely, someone with an upper middle class income has absolutely no assets, or they failed to disclose them?
 
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Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
No evidence of a crime is a valid position. The guy could be dirty as Hunter Biden's crack pipe, but so far the only evidence is that he doesn't seem to have any money. I understand that because he's a repbublician his guilt is automatic, but the real world has different rules.
Way to project that you automatically assume all Democrats are guilty and all Republicans are innocent.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
87,413
54,101
136
Notice how you didn't answer my question? What do you think is more likely, someone with an upper middle class income has absolutely no assets, or they failed to disclose them?
We are talking someone with an income likely in excess of $300k in one of the cheapest areas of the country.

Let’s say it is true that he has no assets. Isn’t that level of financial mismanagement also alarming?
 
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Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Savings account do not carry that risk.
Not necessarily. The funds used to open the account could come from illegal or otherwise fraudulent sources, for example.
This is one reason why all banks are required to perform Know Your Customer (KYC) tests on all new accounts, which generally includes a credit check.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,835
2,620
136
I've never run across a retail outlet, supplier, vendor, or service provider that wouldn't accept cash. I was surprised when I moved to the South at how many people use cash almost exclusively. I usually have a couple hundred bucks on me, and a couple thousand at home. Some places around here charge a 4% fee if paying by card.
The only time I've had to produce a bank statement was for the mortgage on my home. One other business (an insurance company) demanded my bank statements for the entire year as part of an audit. I flatly refused.
It's been a while since I've been to one, but the UPS warehouses (not the independent UPS Stores) banned cash transactions maybe four-five years ago. I've run across cash bans here in New England a couple of other times as well but don't recall where (I use cash only when absolutely necessary). Many places (and nearly all gas stations) will not accept $50 or higher cash bills-arguably due to counterfeiting/theft concerns.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
We are talking someone with an income likely in excess of $300k in one of the cheapest areas of the country.

Let’s say it is true that he has no assets. Isn’t that level of financial mismanagement also alarming?
Dude, he's a Republican. Therefore Greenman and PC say this is all a nothingburger and we need to talk about Hunter instead.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,158
4,916
136
Dude, he's a Republican. Therefore Greenman and PC say this is all a nothingburger and we need to talk about Hunter instead.

PC?

Don't drag me into your little spat.

I've made no comments about his Banking situation one way or the other.

I don't believe he is stuffing a mattress at home... I also find it hard to believe he has no bank accounts.
 

APU_Fusion

Golden Member
Dec 16, 2013
1,692
2,483
136
Dude, he's a Republican. Therefore Greenman and PC say this is all a nothingburger and we need to talk about Hunter instead.
They are such low brow trolls. No ability to think critically. Just Trump dick suckers who desire the cream of his juice they equate with liberal tears. 👍
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,262
6,637
126
I believe OPM requires all federal employees, including members of Congress, to be paid direct deposit.
I can't imagine a bank cashing a government check for the amount of a congressman's salary without an account in that bank. I also would bet OPM mandates wire transfer.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
I can't imagine a bank cashing a government check for the amount of a congressman's salary without an account in that bank. I also would bet OPM mandates wire transfer.
They use the ACH for direct deposits.