Favoring PNC Secrecy on FOIA OCC Upholds Withholding 417 Pages from Inner City Press

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, Nov 25 – As PNC Bank has grown it has become more disparate in its lending. After its CEO Bill Demchak announced a $4.1 billion proposal to buy FirstBank and bragged, "We just effectively bought Colorado," Fair Finance Watch prepared an early filing to the regulators demanding scrutiny and hearings.  

This takes place as the regulators, led by the FDIC, are seeking to eliminate public notice and limit public comment. See, e.g., American Banker, Sept 10, 2025, "The FDIC is taking the 'community' out of CRA enforcement," by Matthew R. Lee, here

 On September 13 Fair Finance Watch filed challenges with the Federal Reserve and OCC, and Inner City Press filed Freedom of Information Act requests, see below.

Compare OCC denial of expedited processing here to FRB grant of identical request here

Inner City Press appealed.

On October 20 the Federal Reserve belatedly asked PNC questions, now on Patreon here

On October 28, the Fed provided Fair Finance Watch with its email to PNC asking why did it did not respond to FFW's September 18 comment within the time granted. Instead, PNC late submitted a breezy letter saying it "welcomed hearing from the two commenters who expressed concerns regarding the Proposed Transaction: Matthew Lee, Esq. of Fair Finance Watch" then citing 15 suborned letters.

On October 15 the OCC provided some responsive documents - but withheld in full 435 pages, while providing suborned letters from supportive commenters who have PNC on their Board of Directors (can you say, conflict of interest) or who name support. OCC responsive documents in Inner City Press' CloudDocument here.

Appeal was immediately filed, for action before the comment period expire.

But the OCC waiting under November 24 to deny the FOIA appeal and rubberstamp its withholding of 417 pages in full. This while PNC has applied to the OCC to close seven more branches, having just closed three others.  We'll have more on this, and on PNC Bank, NA.

New issues have arisen that FFW will raise in its second comment.

 From the filings:

 Fair Finance Watch has long been concerned about PNC.  Fair Finance Watch has reviewed the just-released 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data of PNC, not reviewed in any Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluation. 

 In state after state, PNC for African Americans has (many) more denials than originations, while the opposite is true for white borrows. The pattern is striking:    

 In New York, where PNC recently and unceremoniously closed a deposit facility, PNC in 2024 denied 52 applications from African Americans while making fewer, only 28 loans - while it made fully 289 loans to whites and denied only 252 applications. This follows the same PNC pattern and is disparate.  

  In Colorado, which PNC CEO's says the bank has now "effectively bought," PNC in 2024 denied 12 applications from African Americans while making only 17 loans - while it made fully 422 loans to whites and denied only 244 applications. This is disparate.  

    In Arizona, where PNC lists 60 branches and now proposes to further expand, PNC in 2024 denied 15 applications from African Americans while making only 22 loans - while it made fully 796 loans to whites and denied only 466 applications. This is disparate.   There are more states.

 There are many more - including regarding the debanking the OCC said will now be considered in connection with merger and other applications - to be addressed at the requested hearings.

Watch this site.

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On 2d Bid to Unseal Epstein Case in SDNY Filings Due Dec 3 As JPM Chase Challenged

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY, Nov 24 – After passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in Congress, DOJ made a second request to unseal his criminal case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which Inner City Press closely covers.

On November 25, Judge Richard M. Berman set a schedule: "any submission on behalf of the deceased defendant Epstein is to be delivered to the Court's chambers by noon on December 3, 2025. Submissions from Victims: Pursuant to the Crime Victims' Rights Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3771, the Government shall immediately notify Epstein's victims of the second motion to unseal. Submissions from victims who wish to be heard (directly or through counsel) in response to the Government's second motion are due by noon on December 3, 2025.

The case is USA v. Epstein, 1:19-cr-490 (Berman)

Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase's apparent enabling of sex trafficking by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as its "debanking," have been formally raised by Fair Finance Watch on November 24 to the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, opposing JPMC's applications including to open eight branches while closing in low and moderate income communities. 

   As the US bank regulators including the OCC under Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould move to limit public notice and participation in review of banks' applications for approvals, and purport to take seriously debanking and even banks' enabling of sex trafficking, this is a test:

To Comptroller Gould and To Whom it May Concern at the OCC: 

    On behalf of Fair Finance Watch and in my personal capacity there are timely comments opposing JPMorgan Chase NA's branch applications list below, all of which have comment periods running through today November 24 or later. These comments are timely.   

   FFW has reviewed the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data of JPMorgan Chase NA and finds that it is deteriorating. For now, here are JPMC's nationwide numbers:  

   In 2024, the most recent year for which HMDA data is available and data for which has not been reviewed in any Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluation, JPM Chase NA nationwide made 52,013 mortgage loans to whites, while denying 7437 applications from whites. Meanwhile it made only 6222 loans to African Americans, with fully 1565 denials.     Beyond these disparities, JPM Chase's lending to African Americans is even down from 2022, when it made 7505 loans to African Americans. JPM Chase is in decline.  

  Also for the record on these and all other JPM Chase applications before the OCC, now and until at least the end of the year: JPM Chase has been exposed as having enabled sex traffickers Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including a current Congressional inquiry into Suspicious Activity Reports it should have filed by didn't.    

Also, on the issue of debanking which the OCC (and Comptroller) have said they take so seriously, for the record on these and all other JPM Chase applications, consider:  "Strike CEO Jack Mallers said JPMorgan Chase closed his bank accounts without a proper explanation last month, prompting concerns of debanking of crypto CEOs. "Last month, J.P. Morgan Chase threw me out of the bank," Mallers wrote on social media platform X on Sunday. "It was bizarre. My dad has been a private client there for 30+ years." When Mallers inquired why his accounts were closed, he said JPMorgan’s only response was: "We aren’t allowed to tell you.'"

    This is a debanking complaint to the OCC, on pending applications - please immediately confirm receipt, and take action. Public hearings are hereby timely requested, initially timely on these (and also on all of the pending and 2025 applications)...

Meanwhile, JPM Chase NA is moving to CLOSE branches in low and moderate income areas. As only one example - and hereby raised, along with the request(s) for public hearings, FFW opposes this proposed closing by JPM Chase in a moderate income census tract, over 80% "minority" -- 

South Holland    370 EAST 162ND STREET         SOUTH HOLLAND    IL    60473    Cook    141494A    

 A hearing is requested, timely opposition made.

Thank you for your attention, /s/ Matthew Lee, Esq. Executive Director Fair Finance Watch

Watch this site.

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After Epstein Files DC Vote DOJ Asks Ghislaine Maxwell Transcripts Unsealed so SDNY Dates

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 24 – With Ghislaine Maxwell in prison, she reportedly offered to testify to Congress about Jeffrey Epstein, presumably for a pardon.

Then she said she would invoke the Fifth.

Now after the Epstein files votes on Capitol Hill, from the SDNY Judge who took over the Maxwell file from Judge Nathan, this:

"ORDER as to Ghislaine Maxwell. On August 11, 2025, the Court denied a motion by the Government to unseal grand jury transcripts and exhibits in this case. The Court found that unsealing was not authorized by either Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e) or the special circumstances doctrine applicable in this Circuit. See United States v. Maxwell, No. 20 Cr. 330 (PAE), 2025 WL 2301281, at *8-9, 16 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 11, 2025); Dkt. 809. Today, the Government filed a new motion to unseal the grand jury transcripts and exhibits. Dkt. 810.(See Footnote 1 on this Order). It argues that the Epstein Files Transparency Act, H.R. 4405 (the "Act"), enacted November 19, 2025, authorizes such disclosures, subject to redactions to protect victims' personal identifying information. The Government also seeks a corresponding modification of the protective order in this case. The Government asks the Court to rule on an expedited basis. The Court, mindful of the Act's requirement that the Attorney General disclose responsive materials within 30 days of its enactment, sets the following schedule for responses to the Government's motion: 1. Submission from Maxwell: By December 3, 2025, defendant Ghislaine Maxwell will file a letter setting out her position on the Government's proposed disclosures and modification of the protective order. 2. Submissions from victims: As with its earlier motion to unseal, the Government's motion is silent as to the rights of victims of Maxwell and/or Jeffrey Epstein to be heard, pursuant to the Crime Victims' Rights Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3771. The Court directs the Government forthwith to provide notice of its motion to all such victims. To the extent victim(s) wish to be heard, directly or through counsel, with respect to the Government's proposed disclosures and modification of the protective order, letters setting out victims' perspectives are due December 3, 2025."

A similar order is expected in USA v. Epstein before Judge Richard M. Berman....

Inner City Press, with its Maximum Maxwell book restored here, and only today back on X as InnerCityPress, will cover all filings.

After having asked Maxwell herself question when she did a press conference in the UN. After that, Inner City Press was banned from the UN by SG Antonio Guterres. His spokesman Stephane Dujarric on July 14, 2025 refused to answer written questions, including:

On deadline, explain why Ghislaine Maxwell was granted a press conference in the UN briefing room, and why a UN correspondent who did a fundraiser with Ghislaine Maxwell - convicted of sex trafficking here in SDNY, and known at the time to be manager for Jeffrey Epstein - is allowed in daily and can ask questions, while Inner City Press which asked and asks remains banned, with 6/19/25 application to MALU pending, none of the promised (by Dujarric) answers to written questions like this provided

      No answers.

     On April 19, 2022 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Loretta A. Preska held a proceeding to unseal some but not all documents.  Inner City Press, which has published a book on the Maxwell trial here, and another book including the Larry Ray trial "John list" here, live tweeted it, thread here:

 173-6 it will be sealed [or redacted.]

Jump cut to April 25, 2025, with Virginia Giuffre declared dead, reportedly by suicide. A redacted life. Rest in Peace.

Inner City Press continues reporting on the UN (where Ghislaine Maxwell was allowed a press conference and SG  Antonio Guterres  had a rep on her Terramar board  (video here, story here).

This case is USA v. Maxwell, 1:20-cr-330 (Engelmayer)

   Watch this site.  

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On Luigi Mangione US Asked SDNY for Time to Respond now Files 121 Pages on Friday Night

by Matthew Russell Lee, Substack Book Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 21 – Luigi Mangione was presented in Federal court on December 19 on four charges, one of them death penalty eligible, for the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Inner City Press was there, covering the case toward a book.

On April 1 DOJ announced it will seek the death penalty against Mangione.

  In the interim, after some push back, Inner City Press published a book Luigi Mangione Lone Wolf here, audiobook here.

On April 24 the US filed "NOTICE OF INTENT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY - here.

Jump cut to October 10-11, when Mangione's lawyer filed a motion to dismiss Counts 3 and 4 and to suppress statements- Karen Friedman Agnifilo 13 page affidavit here

On October 14 the US Attorney's Office asked for extensions to respond: "The Government seeks to consolidate its responses and respectfully requests an extension of time to November 21, 2025, to respond to all of the defendant’s motions." Filing on Patreon here.

On October 15 it was granted - and the next conference moved into 2026: "GRANTED. The Government shall file one consolidated brief due by November 21, 2025.

On November 21, past 9 pm, the US Attorney's Office filed a 121 page response, "The Government respectfully submits this omnibus memorandum of law in opposition to defendant Luigi Nicholas Mangione’s motions challenging the constitutionality of the death penalty, seeking dismissal of the Indictment and the Government’s Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty, and seeking suppression of certain evidence" - 121 page filing on Patreon here

The Federal case is US v. Mangione, 1:25-cr-176 (Garnett)

More / extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

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Hearing on Zillow Ban Ends as Compass Denounces Monopoly Power But Decision Later

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 21 – The real estate listing giant Zillow faces a hearing this week in which Compass seeks a preliminary injunction against a policy Zillow says is for transparency.

   A Zillow spokesperson said, "While Americans are struggling to access and afford housing, Compass wants to hide available listings from the public. Real estate works when it's fair, equal, open and transparent, so Zillow is defending that transparency — and we're not backing down." 

  The irony is that nearly every filing in the case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which Inner City Press closely covers, is sealed. 

 Days before the PI hearing sent for November 18-21 before Judge Jeannette A. Vargas, Zillow's outside counsel at Wilson Sonsini wrote in that documents should not be shown, as plaintiff's counsel at Crowell & Moring request, to Compass' CEO and CLO, saying that "there is plainly no First Amendment right to access... unless and until the documents are used in judicial decision making."  

 Redfin, which has a policy similar to Zillow's, is in the case, represented by Davis Wright Tremaine.

  On November 20 Inner City Press covered the hearing on Bluesky and Threads (its main X is still hacked without Support), as Compass' antiturst expert was on the stand:

Antitrust expert: This is an expensive market to try to enter or expand in. Homes dot com tried and spent but didn't move the needle. Google and Yahoo decided it was not feasible. Zillow has the most powerful branding - it can act as a barrier to entry

  On November 21 the closing arguments. Judge Vargas did not seem convinced of the Section 1 claim - she said it seemed Redfin did not know of Zillow's policy in advance - but as to the policy itself...

More on Substack here

 Inner City Press is covering the case.

It is Compass, Inc. v. Zillow, Inc., et al., 1:25-cv-5201 (Vargas)

More (Nov 19) on Substack here

More (Nov 18) on Substack here

More (Nov 17) on Substack here

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UN Volunteers Hit List Leaked to Inner City Press as Tony Cronies from Juba to Swiss Banks

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE / Juba, Nov 21 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? Consider South Sudan, where UN personnel stand accused of child rape on which UN spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming have refused all Press questions. On November 21 this, from a UN whistleblower sent to Inner City Press:

"Dear Matthew Russell Lee, 

Please find the attached list of UN Volunteers to be terminated due to downsizing."

  Inner City Press has put the list on DocumentCloud here and embedded below.

Actually, it's less than half of the full list - but these are people given 30 days notice on November 20 that it's all over December 20, and that if they have accumulated days they "may utilize them for early check-out."

  Check-out of funds as well - to Swiss banks, see below. The leaked UNV hit list:

 Previously:

Dear Matthew Russell Lee

 After the UNMISS [South Sudan] ring group of Aggrey, Victoria, and Leda controlled the staff selection process, they were finally compelled—following exposure by Inner City Press—to establish the attached Staff Management Group (SMG) as a committee.

Although some members of the SMG remain weak and easily influenced by these rogue managers (Aggrey Kedodo, Leda Limann, and Victoria Browning), staff members are nonetheless pleased to see the formal establishment of this group and express their gratitude to Inner City Press for being their voice.

  There are also credible reports that several managers currently or previously assigned to UNMISS have opened personal bank accounts in South Africa and Switzerland. Why was this necessary? Could it be an attempt to evade tax scrutiny or conceal potential financial irregularities from their countries? 

Despite numerous reports of misconduct and corruption, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) has failed to investigate these matters thoroughly appearing instead to act as an “apple polisher” for management, remaining in its comfort zone rather than confronting corruption and illegal practices within UNMISS.

 Guterres, they say, should end censorship. Application was made on June 19, 2025, here. Still as of October 7 no answer at all from Melissa Fleming or Stephane Dujarric. Totally corrupt. Watch this site.

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After Sean Combs Sentenced to 50 Months US Agrees He Can Use Discovery in Civil Cases

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 20 – At 12:26 am on September 29-20, 2025, the US Attorney's Office filed a sentencing memo on Sean Combs, asking for 135 months imprisonment on October 3. Memo on Patreon here.

Just over a year before at 4:30 pm on September 16, 2024 Inner City Press was told by its SDNY source to expect "the big one" - Sean Combs - the next day in an SDNY courtroom.

[Inner City Press published a first book / audio book Diddy Do It? on Sept 20 on Amazon here. Now sentencing book here.

On July 2 the jury came back with not guilty on RICO and sex trafficking, guilty on counts 3 and 5, transportation for prostitution.

On October 2 another submission, including on First Amendment, 60 page filing on Patreon here

On October 3 Inner City Press live tweeted the sentencing, 10 am to 5 pm, here, resulting in a 50 month sentence.

Then it published an ebook here, audiobook here

Judge Subramanian signed off - and on October 8 docketed an Order of Forfeiture, listing among many other things electronics seize at the hotel in Manhattan, and in Miami - full Order on Patreon here

On October 15 the judge docketed the judgment, triggering 14 days to appeal. Judgment on Patreon here

On October 20, notice of appeal was filed.

On November 20 the US wrote in, "
At the defendant’s request, the parties jointly propose a second addendum addressing the defendant’s use of materials covered by the Protective Order in civil discovery" - proposed order on Patreon here

more on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

The case is USA v. Combs, 1:24-cr-542 (Subramanian)

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