Federal Investigation into Hasan Piker’s Cuba Trip
WASHINGTON — Streamer Hasan Piker seems deeply unsettled by a federal inquiry regarding his March visit to Cuba, which might have breached U.S. sanctions.
“This is not good,” Piker expressed during a recent stream, revealing his concerns. “I mean, it’s definitely annoying. They shouldn’t be targeting your son. It’s frustrating.”
“Yeah, set me free. Set me free,” the 34-year-old said in reaction to a comment on his feed. “I can’t believe I’m saying that, but I think I’m about to be made an example of.”
Over the weekend, reports indicated that federal authorities have served subpoenas to Piker and Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, concerning their trips to the island just off Florida’s coast.
Adding to Piker’s distress, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) reposted a clip that poked fun at him for not endorsing former Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 election.
In the video, a thread user criticized Piker, saying, “I mean, Kamala would never have done that,” which drew a side-eye emoji response from Crockett. “That’s why people are being told to vote third party or not at all.”
Piker and Benjamin are part of over 30 individuals being scrutinized by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
A subpoena requesting correspondence and related documents was linked to online speculation that Piker and others had stayed at a U.S.-licensed hotel in Havana. However, those involved have refuted these claims.
The Treasury Department did not comment on the ongoing investigation when asked.
These regulations around Cuban assets impose tight restrictions on American businesses engaging with Cuba, particularly concerning hotels with ties to the government. There are exceptions for humanitarian work and educational efforts.
Piker joined the Nuestra America Convoy, a gathering of leftists from North America and Europe who traveled to Cuba under the guise of delivering humanitarian support.
This visit followed aggressive measures from the Trump administration against Havana, which is grappling with an energy crisis after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s arrest earlier this year.
Benjamin expressed her outrage on social media, saying, “The Trump administration is investigating those who brought drugs to Cuban children while defending its policy that deprives them of food and medical supplies. If loving the Cuban people is a crime, then millions worldwide are also guilty.”
Piker, related to “Young Turks” host Cenk Uygur, has been known for making controversial statements. In 2019, for example, he controversially stated that “America deserved 9/11” and later connected the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, to Israeli actions, suggesting that even acts of violence do not change broader dynamics.
Additionally, Piker has criticized the “brave mujahideen” who injured Rep. Dan Crenshaw during his service in Afghanistan and controversially proposed that Senator Rick Scott should face severe consequences.
