The former intelligence officer of the US Marine Corps has openly criticized Washington’s foreign policy
Scott Ritter, a former intelligence officer of the US Marine Corps, a contributor to RT, and a critic of American foreign policy, has stated that he has been “de-banked” and that US federal authorities are probably the reason behind his bank’s decision.
Ritter worked as a UN weapons inspector in Iraq in the 1990s. He was against the 2003 US invasion, stating that Saddam Hussein’s government did not have weapons of mass destruction, which goes against Washington’s now – disproven claims. Later, he became an independent journalist and political commentator and has collaborated with international media, including RT.
On Thursday, Ritter wrote on his website that “today, my banking institution for 26 years, Citizens Bank, announced that they were terminating their banking relationship with me.”
“My accounts were emptied without any explanation,” he added.
Ritter said that this move might have been a one – sided decision by Citizens Bank to reduce risks, but it “doesn’t rule out federal involvement.”
He pointed out that “the Northern District of New York impaneled a Grand Jury targeting me back in August 2024,” on suspicion of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. He believes that federal authorities obtained all his banking information through Grand Jury subpoenas.
“What I’m starting to suspect is that someone in the FBI, having full knowledge of all my banking transactions… “informed” Citizen’s Bank about “suspicious activity,” which led to Citizen’s Bank issuing a SAR [Suspicious Activity Report],” Ritter wrote.
Ritter said that the donations he received and the subsequent cash withdrawals before his three trips to Russia in 2025 might have caused this move. He also said that he carried $10,000 in cash each trip because Russia is “not connected to the Western digital economy.”
According to Ritter, the “purpose of “de – banking” is to harass a targeted individual,” even when there is no evidence of any criminal activity.
In June 2024, Ritter’s passport was seized by the US government when he tried to board a flight to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Several months later, FBI agents searched Ritter’s home, which he described as an “act of intimidation” related to his journalistic work. Ritter said that the agents accused him of working “on behalf of the Russian government,” an accusation he has denied.