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- 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.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., defended the investigation and criticized the organizations’ refusal to comply with the July 21 subpoenas.
“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.
HOUSE PANEL SUBPOENAS 3 LEFT-WING GROUPS IN PROBE OF $39M TIED TO MARXIST TYCOON NEVILLE SINGHAM
In letters, attorneys for both organizations wrote in identical language, “A witch-hunt is not a valid legislative purpose,” arguing the committee’s public statements reflect “the language of the Red Scare.”
Both organizations 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. They leave open the possibility of responding if the committee narrows its demands.
The two responses, dated Aug. 7 and shared on the organizations’ social media accounts, closely mirror each other in tone and substance. Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, co-founder and executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, a far-left nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., signed the letter from the People’s Forum. She co-signed the letter from BreakThrough News with Andrew Herman, an attorney also based in Washington, D.C.
Both attorneys have represented the nonprofit groups through earlier inquiries and 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.
According to digital records, the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund shares the same address at a Florida Avenue NW townhouse used by the ANSWER Coalition, a self-described communist group that also operates out of the People’s Forum headquarters on W. 37th Street in Midtown Manhattan.Â
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.
The committee, however, says in its July 21 subpoena cover letters that it’s seeking information about the organizations’ financing and structure to examine how Singham-linked money reached the tax-exempt groups and whether foreign influence was involved. The committee hasn’t accused any of the subpoenaed organizations of criminal wrongdoing or other illegal conduct.
The cover letters describe $40.3 million in funding that flowed from Singham’s network to BreakThrough News, People’s Forum and a third nonprofit, Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, which describes its work as rooted in <a href="https://thetricontinental.org/abou
