Biden Administration Halts Probe on Nonprofits Linked to Hamas

On August 21, 2024, Congress launched an investigation into organizations accused of financing "illegal and antisemitic activities" across the United States, particularly on college campuses and in major cities. The inquiry, initiated in mid-May, targets groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Lawmakers assert that "suspicious activity reports" from the Treasury Department are crucial for their oversight efforts. Despite the request for documents made over three months ago, the Treasury Department has yet to provide any records related to the investigation, according to Reps. James Comer and Virginia Foxx. The chairs of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Education and the Workforce have indicated that if the Biden-Harris administration continues to withhold information, they are prepared to issue subpoenas to obtain the necessary records. The investigation highlights past controversies surrounding some of the organizations involved. CAIR was previously identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in a 2009 case linked to funding for Hamas. Recent protests, including a significant demonstration outside the U.S. Capitol during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech, have raised concerns about ongoing antisemitic activities by these groups. Lawmakers have set an August 28 deadline for the Treasury Department to comply with their request, emphasizing the urgency of the situation given the serious nature of the allegations and the potential for further illegal activities.