THUGGERY: ‘Operation Choke Point’ Details Disclosed in Government Memos. “The release of the documents comes amid a battle between the Justice Department and congressional Republicans, who argue the government is trying to intimidate legal businesses, including short-term lenders that operate online. Republicans say the government has pressured banks to stop handling payments for merchants deemed as high risk—including gun dealers, short-term lenders and credit-repair programs—punishing good actors along with bad ones.”