Federal authorities have issued subpoenas to political influencer Hasan Piker and CodePink cofounder Medea Benjamin as part of a Treasury Department investigation into potential violations of U.S. sanctions on Cuba, according to people familiar with the matter.
The administrative subpoenas, formally called Requests for Information (RFI), were sent by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) seeking financial records, travel logistics and communications surrounding trips the two made to Cuba in March as part of a delegation organized by the Nuestra America Convoy, sources told Fox News Digital.
What the Right Is Saying
National security officials argue the investigation reflects legitimate concerns about foreign influence operations targeting American political discourse. Treasury, State and Justice Department officials have pointed to evidence that Cuba's communist government uses international delegations to cultivate sympathizers who then amplify pro-regime messaging domestically.
Republican lawmakers have praised the OFAC investigation as necessary enforcement of sanctions laws that exist precisely because Cuba remains designated a state sponsor of terrorism. They argue that Americans funneling money or coordination to Havana through shell organizations or front groups, even those presenting themselves as humanitarian, are circumventing laws Congress has enacted.
The administration has noted that delegation members reportedly stayed at hotels on the State Department's Cuba Restricted List, which directly serve the Cuban government. This constitutes a clear violation of existing regulations absent specific licensing, officials said.
What the Left Is Saying
Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the scope of federal subpoenas targeting political activists. Organizations including the ACLU have long argued that Americans engaging in diplomatic exchanges or humanitarian discussions with countries under U.S. sanctions should not face criminal investigation absent evidence of material support for terrorism or weapons programs.
Progressive commentators have defended figures like Piker, noting his online content constitutes protected speech and that travel to Cuba, even under current restrictions, often involves gray areas where journalists, academics and humanitarians may have legitimate reasons for engagement. Some progressive voices argue the administration is using sanctions enforcement to silence left-wing political expression rather than address genuine national security threats.
CodePink has characterized its delegations as educational exchanges aimed at fostering understanding between Americans and citizens of countries targeted by U.S. foreign policy, framing such travel as protected assembly under the First Amendment.
What the Numbers Show
According to reporting by Fox News Digital, billionaire donor Nick Singham has directed approximately $278 million to nonprofit organizations promoting pro-Cuba and anti-U.S. narratives since his 2017 marriage to CodePink co-founder Jodie Evans, who is also under investigation for her role in the March delegation.
The Nuestra America Convoy included an estimated 650 delegates from 33 countries and 120 organizations, including members of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Federal investigators have identified approximately 145 U.S. nonprofits with a combined $1 billion in revenues that may be connected to influence operations tied to Cuba's government. The current OFAC inquiry involves as many as 40 American citizens, with additional subpoenas expected.
U.S. law prohibits unlicensed travel-related transactions and exports of goods or services to Cuba under the Cuban Asset Control Regulations, with exceptions for journalism, humanitarian projects involving the Cuban people, and certain educational programs.
The Bottom Line
The subpoenas represent a significant escalation in the Trump administration's enforcement of Cuba sanctions against figures prominent in progressive political circles. OFAC penalties can include civil fines ranging from thousands to millions of dollars per violation, as well as potential criminal referrals for willful violations.
Piker and Benjamin have not been charged with any crimes, and administrative subpoenas do not imply wrongdoing has been established. Both have 30 days to respond to the Requests for Information under standard OFAC procedures.
The investigation is part of a broader federal effort examining whether foreign actors are attempting to shape American political discourse through funding of activist organizations. The outcome could affect how U.S. nonprofits with international ties operate and whether travel to sanctioned countries by political figures triggers enhanced scrutiny.