Two nonprofits subpoenaed in a House Ways and Means Committee investigation into communist tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham's funding network have formally objected to the congressional subpoenas, accusing lawmakers of reviving "Red Scare" tactics to target them because of their political views.

In letters from their attorneys to the committee, New York City-based BreakThrough News, a pro-China media outlet, and Peoples Forum Inc., a socialist activist group, argued the subpoenas violate the First Amendment. They claim lawmakers are targeting their free speech, journalism and political advocacy rather than conducting a legitimate tax-law investigation.

The organizations submitted their formal responses by the Aug. 7 deadline outlined in the July 21 subpoenas. A third nonprofit, Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, also submitted a response by the deadline, according to a source familiar with the committee's investigation.

What the Right Is Saying

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., defended the investigation in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Make no mistake: Compliance with a congressional subpoena isn't optional, and the Committee will use all tools it has available to investigate whether foreign actors are exploiting our tax code to sow chaos and create division," Smith said.

The committee alleges the Singham network routed money through shell companies and donor-advised funds in ways that obscured the original source of the contributions. The cover letters describe $40.3 million in funding that flowed from Singham's network to BreakThrough News, Peoples Forum and Tricontinental.

According to the committee, the organizations failed to produce requested documents, prompting the formal subpoenas. Committee Republicans say they are examining whether existing tax laws adequately account for those funding arrangements and whether legislative changes are needed to address potential gaps in disclosure requirements.

The committee hasn't accused any of the subpoenaed organizations of criminal wrongdoing or other illegal conduct. The investigation is described as a preliminary examination into how Singham-linked money reached the tax-exempt groups and whether foreign influence was involved.

What the Left Is Saying

BreakThrough News and Peoples Forum argue they are not required to comply with the subpoenas as presently framed, saying the committee's demands are too broad and seek information protected by the First Amendment. Both organizations leave open the possibility of responding if the committee narrows its demands.

In identical language in both letters, attorneys wrote: "A witch-hunt is not a valid legislative purpose," arguing the committee's public statements reflect "the language of the Red Scare."

Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, co-founder and executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, signed the letter from Peoples Forum. She co-signed the letter from BreakThrough News with attorney Andrew Herman. Both attorneys have represented the nonprofit groups through earlier inquiries.

The attorneys compared the current congressional investigation to the work of the House Un-American Activities Committee, which investigated suspected communist influence and subversion in the United States in the late 1940s and 1950s.

In both letters, the attorneys also argue the committee has strayed beyond its traditional role of overseeing tax law by venturing into foreign influence, national security and alleged propaganda issues—areas they say fall outside legitimate congressional oversight.

What the Numbers Show

Singham, 72 years old, sold his software company ThoughtWorks for an estimated $785 million in 2017 and now lives in Shanghai, China. Fox News Digital previously reported he has directed at least $278 million into six core nonprofits that promote socialist, communist and pro-China causes as part of a broader international network of media organizations, activist groups and think tanks.

The three subpoenaed nonprofits—BreakThrough News, Peoples Forum and Tricontinental—received a combined $40.3 million from Singham's network according to committee cover letters.

Tricontinental describes its work as rooted in "national liberation Marxism." The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund shares an address with the ANSWER Coalition at a Florida Avenue NW townhouse in Washington, D.C., according to digital records. The ANSWER Coalition is a self-described communist group that also operates out of the Peoples Forum headquarters on W. 37th Street in Midtown Manhattan.

The Bottom Line

The standoff sets up potential legal and constitutional questions about congressional authority over nonprofit organizations engaged in political speech and journalism. If the nonprofits continue to refuse compliance, the committee could pursue enforcement actions through the House vote or federal court.

What happens next: The committee must decide whether to narrow its document requests, negotiate terms with the organizations' attorneys, or move toward contempt proceedings. Any legislative recommendations emerging from the investigation would require additional committee votes and floor action.

Fox News Digital reached out to Tricontinental and its attorney for comment but did not receive a response by publication.