House Committee Subpoenas Singham-Linked NGOs, Groups Claim McCarthy-Era Witch Hunt

The House Ways and Means Committee issued July 21 subpoenas to BreakThrough News, a pro-China media outlet, and Peoples Forum, a socialist activist group, as part of an investigation into how Neville Roy Singham’s $278 million funding network channels money to tax-exempt organizations. Both nonprofits responded on Aug. 7, arguing through their attorneys that the subpoenas breach the First Amendment, likening the effort to the Red Scare and a “witch-hunt.”

Committee Chairman Jason Smith rejected the criticism, insisting compliance is mandatory and the probe aims to determine whether foreign actors exploit the tax code. The subpoenas request information on $40.3 million in contributions that flowed from Singham’s network to the two groups and a third nonprofit, Tricontinental. The organizations contend the demands are excessively broad, potentially exposing their journalism and political advocacy, and have indicated they might cooperate if the scope is narrowed. The committee maintains it is assessing whether current tax laws adequately address such funding structures and whether legislative changes are needed.