House Committee urges state attorneys to review nonprofits for terror ties, ‘illegal activity’

(JNS) The top prosecutors of six states received letters on Oct. 29 calling for investigations into entities accused of coordinating pro-Hamas protests.

Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, contacted the attorney generals of New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Pennsylvania—states, he said, with tax-exempt nonprofit groups that may have broken the law.

“The Ways and Means Committee is committed to holding accountable any tax-exempt organization found to have ties to foreign terrorist organizations, engaged in activity that contradicts tax-exempt purposes, or participated in other illegal activity,” he said in a statement.

Smith had previously contacted the IRS on Sept. 24, calling for investigations of activist groups who may have violated nonprofit laws. “While I have already demanded the Biden-Harris administration stand up to the pro-Hamas wing of their party and revoke the tax-exempt status of these groups, it is now time for state law enforcement agencies to act and bring any organization found to have engaged in illegal activity to justice,” he said.

The legislator said “Congress owes it to the American people to ensure any organization with tax-exempt status is operating for their stated tax-exempt purpose, and more importantly, following the letter of the law.”

The letters urge investigations of the People’s Forum, United Hands Relief, Americans for Justice in Palestine Educational Foundation, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Tides Foundation, American Muslims for Palestine and others.