CodePink Co-Founder Acknowledges Treasury Inquiry
Medea Benjamin, a co-founder of CodePink, has revealed that her organization is under scrutiny from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regarding her recent trip to Cuba in March. This marks the first time she has publicly addressed the inquiry.
The investigation is being characterized as an administrative subpoena, and it coincides with the Trump administration’s broader initiative to enhance federal oversight of nonprofits involved in foreign policy and activist efforts. After the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk last October, President Trump instructed federal agencies to intensify enforcement against nonprofits that might endorse political violence.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated this sentiment recently, stating that nonprofit organizations cannot evade legal responsibilities if their resources are utilized to support unlawful activities. He mentioned that significant progress has been made, noting that upcoming changes will require the IRS to monitor grant recipients more closely.
“If your grant recipients are violent and suppress people’s rights, you are held accountable,” Bessent explained, suggesting that these measures represent a commendable first step.
This move reflects the administration’s increasing worries about whether nonprofit networks are adequately overseeing the projects and activists they support. The OFAC investigation aims to assess whether activist groups adhere to relevant laws and federal regulations.
During a video promoted by the far-left media outlet Breakthrough News, Benjamin indicated that she and political streamer Hasan Piker first learned of the OFAC inquiry on Saturday, following a report by Fox News Digital.
Benjamin noted that the inquiry coincides with the increasing scrutiny of non-profit actions regarding their international activities.
The OFAC enforces U.S. sanctions against Cuba, which limit many financial transactions with the communist regime, requiring travelers to comply with specific permitting and record-keeping mandates for valid activities.
Benjamin confirmed that the inquiry’s notification reached CodePink co-founder Jody Evans via email but landed in her spam folder, which she described as rather unofficial.
While Benjamin expressed disapproval of the investigation’s methods, she acknowledged that the extensive information being requested signifies the seriousness of the matter. “It’s intense; they’re requesting detailed information, which feels like a form of intimidation, and it leads to legal costs and extra workload,” she said.
The survey includes about twelve thorough questions about the Cuba trip and its participants. “They want to know things like how we traveled there, where we stayed, and our activities every hour,” she remarked, even joking about how they might report their sleeping hours.
In total, approximately 170 individuals participated in the convoy, raising the question of whether organizers must account for everyone’s actions. Benjamin also pointed out that they brought a significant amount of humanitarian aid, approximating $600,000 in value, which adds more complexity to the inquiry.
She characterized the investigation as an effort aimed at discouraging Americans from traveling to Cuba or engaging in humanitarian missions. However, she and her team plan to continue their work regardless of federal scrutiny. “I think this is meant to provoke doubt, like, ‘Should we go to Cuba? Should we keep providing aid?'” she said. “The answer is absolutely yes; we refuse to be intimidated and will only heighten our efforts.”
Meanwhile, Piker claimed he had not been contacted by the Treasury Department. He speculated that the investigation may actually aim to target American Marxist tech entrepreneur Neville Roy Singham, who allegedly funneled a substantial amount to various groups, including CodePink, supporting pro-China narratives amidst substantial anti-American protests.
CodePink and Breakthrough News have played significant roles in these protests, and Piker has been actively involved through extensive livestreams.
