The House Ways and Means Committee has escalated its investigation into three nonprofits linked to Neville Roy Singham, issuing warnings that leaders of the organizations could face congressional depositions if they fail to comply with subpoenas by a specified deadline. The committee, led by Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.), renewed demands for financial records and related documents from The People’s Forum, BreakThrough News, and Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, all of which have received funding through Singham’s network of nonprofit entities and charitable accounts.
The committee’s Oct. 13 letters stated that if the organizations do not provide the requested documents by the deadline, their leaders—along with 21 individuals, including Singham—could be compelled to testify under oath. The subpoenas cover 21 people across the three organizations, including executives, activists, and journalists. The committee is investigating whether Singham’s financial network, which has directed more than $22 million to The People’s Forum and $16 million to Tricontinental between 2017 and 2022, as well as approximately $1.1 million to BreakThrough News between 2022 and 2023, has been used to advance foreign interests in the United States.
The investigation seeks records of financial arrangements, communications with Singham or foreign entities regarding finances and organizational control, and details about foreign-linked donations and projects funded through tax-exempt organizations. Smith stated that the probe aims to determine whether existing tax laws adequately prevent foreign interests from using U.S. nonprofits to conceal funding sources or exert influence over American activities.
The three organizations have previously declined earlier requests for financial documents. In response to the latest demands, BreakThrough News issued a statement on Oct. 9 accusing the committee of launching a ‘McCarthy-style attack on journalism.’ The statement did not provide further details but framed the investigation as an attempt to suppress left-wing media. Rania Khalek, a presenter for BreakThrough News, had appeared on Democracy Now! days prior to denounce the probe as politically motivated.
The committee’s letters follow a July subpoena issued after the organizations declined initial requests for documents. The investigation has drawn attention to the flow of funds through Singham’s donor-advised fund, which the committee alleges obscures the original donor’s identity through multiple layers of financial transactions. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) previously told The Epoch Times that by the time funds reach their final recipients, the original donor’s name may be stripped away three or four times, complicating efforts to trace the money’s origin.
The probe has also prompted broader discussions about the role of tax-exempt organizations in facilitating foreign influence. The committee’s actions coincide with reports that the Department of Justice has launched a grand jury investigation into Singham’s funding of leftist groups, though no public charges have been filed. The committee has not provided a timeline for when depositions or further actions may occur if the organizations remain noncompliant.