OFAC Subpoenas Hasan Piker, Medea Benjamin Over Cuba Aid

OFAC subpoenas – The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sent subpoenas to leftist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker and CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin tied to their March trip to Cuba with a humanitarian convoy. Both denied being served and said they cleared

For a March trip that supporters say was meant for pediatric hospitals, the response from Washington has been swift and chilling: subpoenas.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has reportedly sent subpoenas to leftist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker and CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin over their trip to Cuba, according to Fox News.

Piker reacted on Saturday on X. writing. “the american govt would rather try to criminalize delivering aid to a country we’ve starved. than punish the epstein class.” On Sunday. Piker said on his Instagram story that he hasn’t received a subpoena. On his live Twitch stream Sunday. he said he cleared his trip before going—through the Office of Foreign Assets Control. the same office Fox News reported issued the subpoenas. He called the alleged subpoenas an “intimidation tactic” from the American government.

Benjamin. reached in a statement to HuffPost. said she also hasn’t been served a subpoena. though “perhaps” one is on its way. The co-founder of the feminist anti-war organization said she traveled under an authorized category of providing aid to Cubans and stayed in a hotel allowed under U.S. regulations.

“It is outrageous that the U.S. government would target people for bringing humanitarian aid to suffering Cuban children,” Benjamin said in her statement. “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.”.

Fox News reported that the subpoenas were issued as part of questions about whether Piker and Benjamin violated U.S. sanctions laws through the “financing. coordination or delivery of goods to Cuba.” The trip. made with Nuestra América Convoy—a movement formed just a few months ago—was aimed at bringing humanitarian aid to Cuba. More than 600 delegates and 120 organizations participated, according to The Associated Press. Neither the Treasury Department nor Nuestra América Convoy immediately responded to a request for comment.

In a separate April YouTube video. Piker said he wanted to see firsthand the problems Cuba experiences because of the trade embargo imposed by the United States. and also to see a socialist society in person. He said his trip was part of a humanitarian mission to bring aid to Cuba because the United States wouldn’t after Cuba’s electricity grid collapsed in March due to a U.S.-imposed oil blockade. leaving about 10 million people without power.

On Saturday, Benjamin wrote on X: “Taking medical supplies to pediatric hospitals in Cuba is now a crime? Saving the lives of babies is a crime? This administration is beyond grotesque.”

The scrutiny is also unfolding inside a broader push by the U.S. government to stop what it sees as harmful foreign influence on the United States. Fox News wrote in its Saturday report that more subpoenas are expected. describing a “growing concern among federal authorities and lawmakers” over whether foreign actors and aligned organizations are attempting to shape American political discourse. mobilize activists. sow discord and normalize rhetoric that could encourage violence or undermine U.S. national security interests.

OFAC Office of Foreign Assets Control Hasan Piker Medea Benjamin CodePink Cuba sanctions Nuestra América Convoy U.S. Treasury humanitarian aid