Federal Election Commission records indicate that Neville Roy Singham, a technology entrepreneur currently residing in Shanghai, China, and his wife, Jodie Evans, have provided financial support to several prominent progressive lawmakers in the U.S. Congress. The contributions, totaling more than $47,000 from the couple combined, went to Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, and Chuy García, all of whom are associated with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party often referred to as 'The Squad.'
Singham, who founded the software consultancy ThoughtWorks, and Evans, a co-founder of the activist group CodePink, are American citizens. Their financial involvement has drawn scrutiny as federal agencies and congressional committees investigate the influence of foreign-based donors on domestic political discourse. While the donations were made prior to Singham’s move to China, the timing and scale have become a focal point for critics questioning the alignment of these lawmakers with Chinese Communist Party narratives.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators and Republican lawmakers have characterized the donations as evidence of a 'foreign influence operation' aimed at shaping American policy through ideological proxies. They point to the activities of organizations funded by Singham, such as The People’s Forum and BreakThrough News, which have organized protests opposing ICE, capitalism, data centers, and Israel. Critics argue that these groups amplify talking points consistent with Chinese Communist Party propaganda, thereby undermining U.S. strategic interests.
The Heritage Foundation’s Mike Gonzalez testified before a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee in September that Singham shares premises with Maku Cultural Communication, a China-based entity. Republican critics have linked the Singham network to a broader strategy of sowing discord in the United States, citing the couple's promotion of 'revolutionary history' and 'socialist infrastructure' tours in China. CodePink’s website has been noted for the tagline 'China is not our enemy,' which critics view as an attempt to rebrand China as a geopolitical ally rather than a competitor.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocates and the offices of the affected lawmakers have generally emphasized that the contributions were legal, disclosed, and made when Singham was a U.S.-based resident and business owner. They argue that focusing on the donor's current residence in Shanghai ignores the context of the donations, which occurred between 2011 and 2023. Supporters note that many major donors to political campaigns have international business interests, and that the amounts given were within the statutory limits for individual contributions to candidates.
The contributions to Representative Pramila Jayapal were the largest among the group, with a net total of $35,700 from 2016 to 2022. Jayapal's campaign accepted $17,800 from Singham and $17,900 from Evans after refunds. Senator Bernie Sanders’ campaigns received at least $6,800, primarily for his presidential bids in 2016 and 2020. Representative Ilhan Omar’s campaign accepted $4,200 from the couple, and Representative Chuy García received $1,000 from Singham in 2018. None of these contributions have been refunded after the initial deposit period, which under FEC rules is typically 10 days.
What the Numbers Show
According to FEC filings analyzed by Fox News Digital, Neville Roy Singham and Jodie Evans contributed the following amounts to specific lawmakers:
• Senator Bernie Sanders: At least $6,800 total. This includes $2,700 to his 2016 presidential campaign and $2,800 from Evans to the same campaign (with $200 refunded). Evans also contributed at least $252 to the 2020 campaign and $1,250 to the Senate campaign committee in 2011.
• Rep. Pramila Jayapal: Net $35,700 from 2016 to 2022. Singham contributed $17,800 (no refunds). Evans contributed $22,900, with $5,000 refunded in three payments between 2020 and 2023.
• Rep. Ilhan Omar: $4,200 total from 2019 to 2023. Singham gave $2,700 in March 2019. Evans gave $1,500 in two contributions in late 2023. No refunds were issued.
• Rep. Chuy García: $1,000 from Singham in August 2018. No refunds were issued.
• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Her campaign returned a $500 contribution from Evans via ActBlue on the day it arrived in August 2018.
Beyond direct campaign contributions, tax filings indicate that Singham directed $285 million to nonprofits and media organizations following the sale of ThoughtWorks and his marriage to Evans in 2017. The People’s Forum received $22.4 million, CodePink received $1.33 million, and BreakThrough News received $1.098 million.
The Bottom Line
The resurgence of these donation records coincides with multiple ongoing investigations into the Singham network. The Department of Justice and the Southern District of New York have opened a grand jury probe, though Singham has not been charged with any crime. Additionally, DHS and the War Department are reportedly examining the network's role in alleged efforts to sow discord in the U.S.
As the House Foreign Affairs Committee continues its scrutiny, including subpoenas issued to three left-wing groups tied to Singham, the political debate centers on whether these financial ties represent standard campaign fundraising or a vector for foreign ideological influence. The outcomes of the federal and congressional probes will likely determine the long-term political viability of the lawmakers involved and the operational status of the Singham-funded organizations.