Investigation into Foreign Influence in U.S. Nonprofits
In a move to address what’s perceived as “malign foreign influence,” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith has ramped up scrutiny of Neville Roy Singham. Singham, an American-born technology entrepreneur currently in China, is suspected of collaborating with foreign governments, particularly for the sake of spreading Chinese propaganda.
According to a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Smith has demanded records from two nonprofit organizations, Breakthrough BT Media and Tricontinental Institute for Social Research. The letter, sent late Monday, accuses these organizations of promoting propaganda in alignment with the Chinese Communist Party.
A hearing titled “Foreign Influence in U.S. Nonprofits: Uncovering the Threat from Beijing and Beyond” will be led by Smith at 10 a.m. Tuesday, available for online viewing. Neither Singham, nor the mentioned organizations, which operate Breakthrough News, have responded to inquiries for comment.
Smith alleges that the Singham Network is central to a disturbing scheme exploiting nonprofit laws to inject anti-American sentiments into domestic protests, effectively causing unrest within the United States. He further indicated that Breakthrough and Tricontinental may be functioning as unregistered foreign agents under the pretense of academic and journalistic endeavors.
In his letter, Smith outlined concerns about the financial flows into these nonprofits from foreign interests and warned about their interactions with individuals tied to the Chinese Communist Party. He emphasized that the tax-exempt status of such organizations could be invalidated if their activities predominantly support non-exempt purposes.
Smith also expressed his disquiet regarding Breakthrough’s affiliations with organizations tied to the Chinese Communist Party and its overall narrative shift post the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas. He cautioned that funding from Shanghai-based individuals and collaboration with Chinese propaganda entities raises serious doubts about Breakthrough’s compliance with U.S. regulations on foreign agents.
Breaking down the network, Smith connects Breakthrough to Tricontinental, the People’s Forum, the Socialist Liberation Party, and the Answer Coalition. Investigators have noted coordinated protests funded by wealthy expatriates in China against various entities and events in the U.S., showcasing how foreign adversaries may be weaponizing social unrest to further their agenda.
In particular, Smith took issue with how Breakthrough has disseminated content reflecting pro-Chinese Communist Party sentiments, noting that its narrative appeared to aim at sowing division domestically. He highlighted that if these organizations are found to operate as foreign propaganda agents while receiving tax benefits, then those benefits should be revoked immediately.
Additionally, Smith detailed Tricontinental’s financial entanglements, linking it to Chinese government-linked sources and stating that their leadership has direct ties to interests in China. Such associations, he argues, should be examined critically, particularly in a time when national security is at stake.
Overall, Smith’s investigation points to a growing concern that foreign adversaries are using non-governmental organizations as tools for internal disruption, leveraging existing social discontent to undermine the United States. This situation underscores an ongoing struggle over narratives and influences in a fractious world.
