Senate Republicans penned a letter to the Internal Revenue Service calling for an investigation into the tax-exempt statuses of several left-wing organizations that have voiced their support for anti-Israel protests at universities.
The letter, written by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), demands that the IRS determine if “the supporters of the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP), including the AJP Educational Foundation (AJP), the Tides Foundation, the Westchester Peace Action Committee Foundation (WESPAC Foundation), and other benefactors of NSJP have engaged in conduct warranting revocation of their tax-exempt statuses on the basis of their financial support of NSJP.”
American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), which is funded by AJP, has denied any financial ties with anti-Israel student groups, according to Fox News. However, a spokesperson for AMP allegedly admitted to the outlet that it does “issue small-dollar grants” to pre-planned events that align with AMP’s values and mission.
“AMP has been scrutinized before and has every confidence that it will once again be able to show that it operates legally, for legal and constitutionally protected purposes, within the United States,” the AMP representative told Fox News. “AMP also supports the rights of any Americans to exercise their First Amendment protection of freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of association with their peers.”
Ernst and Cassidy allege that NSJP chapters have publicly supported Hamas following the October 7 attack in Israel that ultimately led to the ongoing war in Gaza. According to the senators, many of the organizations “explicitly endorsed the actions of Hamas.” As previously reported by The Dallas Express, one of the organizations funded by the WESPAC Foundation — the Palestinian Youth Movement — posted statements in support of Hamas’ terrorist attack in southern Israel.
The letter to the IRS references Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares’ investigation into the AJP opened in October 2023.
The probe, which is still ongoing, stemmed from claims that AJP failed to register with the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and “may have used funds raised for impermissible purposes under state law, including benefitting or providing support to terrorist organizations,” a news release from Miyares’ office read.
501(c)(3) organizations, such as the ones mentioned in the letter, can lose their tax-exempt status in cases of “planned activities that violate laws … not in furtherance of a charitable purpose” or participating in activities designed “to induce the commission of a crime or if the accomplishment of the purpose is otherwise against public policy,” per IRS statutes .
Ernst and Cassidy’s letter was signed by 14 other senators, including Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mitt Romney (R-UT).
The senators requested a response from the IRS by May 23.