Marxist political commentator Hasan Piker and activist CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin are facing federal scrutiny after officials launched an investigation into a March activist convoy to Cuba that might have violated U.S. sanctions laws.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued subpoenas to Piker and Benjamin, Fox News Digital reported. The administrative subpoenas are seeking financial and logistical information, as well as communications records tied to the “Nuestra América Convoy,” or “Our America Convoy.”
According to its website, the Nuestra América Convoy planned to converge in Havana on March 21 to deliver supplies to the Cuban people. The convoy reportedly included hundreds of delegates representing dozens of countries and organizations, along with a network of communist activists and sympathizers.
The investigation reportedly involves up to 40 U.S. citizens, with additional subpoenas expected.
Piker, a political streamer on Twitch and nephew of left-leaning political commentator and former MSNBC host Cenk Uygur, who’s also co-creator of The Young Turks, announced in a March 10 Instagram post that he planned to join the convoy. During a Sunday livestream, he addressed the investigation and told viewers the development was “not great.”
“I mean, it’s bull—, but still not great that they’re after your boy. They’re up my a—,” Piker stated.
U.S. law restricts many financial transactions involving Cuba. OFAC administers the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, which limit loans, credits, direct financial dealings with certain Cuban entities and lodging arrangements.
Under the lodging restrictions, “no person subject to U.S. jurisdiction may lodge, pay for lodging, or otherwise make any reservation for or on behalf of a third party” at properties identified by the U.S. secretary of state as owned or controlled by the Cuban government, prohibited officials or members of the Cuban Communist Party.
News of the subpoenas follows a separate May 2023 report stating that Justice and Treasury Department officials were investigating 145 U.S. nonprofits and activist groups with a combined $1 billion in revenue. The inquiry reportedly centers on an alleged influence campaign tied to Cuba’s communist regime and other foreign actors.
Nuestra América Convoy and CodePink did not immediately respond to The Christian Post’s request for comment.
In a statement on Sunday, Benjamin said she hadn’t received a subpoena from the U.S. government but acknowledged one could be forthcoming. The CodePink co-founder also insisted that she and her fellow activists “did nothing wrong” during the March trip to Cuba.
“On the contrary, we acted as moral U.S. citizens trying to bring some relief to a population being deliberately starved by the cruel policies of our own government,” she said, arguing that Cuba is “suffering catastrophic shortages” due to the “crippling U.S. blockade.”
“It is outrageous that the U.S. government would target people for bringing humanitarian aid to suffering Cuban children,” Benjamin continued. “But even more disturbing is the cruel and deeply immoral policy the United States continues to impose on Cuba — a policy designed to strangle the island economically, deprive people of food, fuel, medicine, and basic necessities, and make daily life unbearable.”
Since the U.S. government’s January capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, the U.S. has halted oil shipments from Venezuela to Cuba. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a video message to the people of Cuba that he wanted to share “the truth.”
“The reason you are forced to survive 22 hours a day without electricity is not due to an oil ‘blockade’ by the U.S.,” Rubio said.
“As you know, better than anyone, you have been suffering from blackouts for years,” Rubio continued. “The real reason you don’t have electricity, fuel or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars, but nothing has been used to help the people.”
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
