A coalition of Republican senators is demanding an investigation into nonprofit organizations that supported pro-Palestinian protests that took place on college campuses across the country.
In a letter addressed to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Daniel Werfel, the senators, led by Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), called for an investigation into several organizations that “have engaged in conduct that warrants the revocation of their tax-exempt status based on financial support from the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) group.
The senators noted that a nonprofit organization, the AJP Educational Foundation, was already under investigation.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares opened an investigation into the group, also known as American Muslims for Palestine, in October for potential violations of the state’s charitable solicitation laws or for “providing support to terrorist organizations.”
The letter said that in the past, the IRS has revoked tax-exempt status from nonprofits when the organizations “planned activities that violate laws” or engaged in activities that could induce crime.
“We should not need to remind you of the heinous support that NSJP chapters across the country have shown to Hamas, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), the letter said.
The senators noted that support for the NSJP has “exploded” in recent weeks, with pro-Palestinian protests over the ongoing war in Gaza taking place on more than 400 university campuses across the country. Students call on their universities to divest from Israeli companies or companies that supply weapons to Israel in its fight against Hamas.
“In light of this abhorrent support for an FTO, we urge you to initiate an investigation to determine whether financial supporters of the NJSP…engaged in conduct that warrants the withdrawal of its tax-exempt status,” the coalition wrote in the letter. , specifically calling out AJP, the Westchester Peace Action Committee Foundation, and the Tides Foundation.
The group said it expects to hear back from the IRS by May 23.
Ernst shared the letter in a post on social media platform X, saying that “any organization that enables activities that violate the law should lose its tax-exempt status.”
The letter is signed by Ernst, along with Republican Senators Bill Cassidy (La.), Marco Rubio (Florida), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Markwayne Mullin (Okla.), Roger Marshall (Kan.), Kevin Cramer (N.D.). , Mike Crapo (Idaho), Dan Sullivan (Ark.), James Risch (Idaho), John Thune (SD), Lindsey Graham (SC), Ted Cruz (Texas), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Mitt Romney (Utah) and Katie Britt (Ala.).
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