Bill Cassidy launches probe into campus groups linked to terrorism – Washington Examiner
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has initiated an investigation into the campus activities of the group American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), citing its alleged connections to Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization in the U.S. The inquiry was announced during a Senate hearing and is part of broader evaluations by the government concerning potential terrorist links related to anti-Israel protests that have surged as the start of the conflict in gaza in October 2023. Cassidy has submitted requests for information to several universities, including UCLA and Columbia University, asking about AMP’s affiliations, funding sources, and responses to incidents of antisemitism on campus. He asserts that any activities that compromise safety and are tied to terrorist organizations should not be protected as free speech.The investigation aligns with ongoing federal scrutiny of antisemitic behavior linked to campus protests, which have already triggered numerous civil rights investigations and government warnings about funding from schools that support such conduct.
Bill Cassidy announces investigation into terrorist-tied campus group
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced an investigation into the activities of American Muslims for Palestine on college campuses and the group’s alleged ties to Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
During a Senate hearing Thursday, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee announced the investigation as part of examinations throughout the government of possible terrorist ties to anti-Israel protests on campus since the beginning of the war in Gaza in October 2023. American Muslims for Palestine is closely affiliated with Students for Justice in Palestine, which has organized protests on college campuses across the country.
Cassidy sent letters to the heads of the University of California, Los Angeles; George Washington University; Columbia University; and Barnard College on Wednesday, seeking information about SJP’s activities on campus, how the universities have punished or investigated antisemitic or violent incidents, and if the group receives any funding from the institution, among other questions.
“Activity that threatens the safety of others is not constitutionally protected free speech, and conduct
that violates campus rules should not be tolerated. Reports of individuals with ties to terrorist
groups or their affiliates engaging with students on college campuses are also cause for the highest
alarm,” the letters said.
The letters to each college gave a deadline of April 9 for responding to the committee’s questions.
Cassidy also demanded answers from Hamas-tied American Muslims for Palestine Chairman Hatem Bazian regarding the group and its alleged connections to SJP and the group’s activities on college campuses, as well as connections to various organizations and people, including Hamas and the Islamic Association for Palestine.
“While college campuses should welcome free speech and the free exchange of ideas, they should
never be havens for terrorist organizations or their affiliates to engage with college students or
instigate conflict for their own political purposes,” Cassidy said in the letter.
The Senate HELP committee chairman also sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel asking for details on what both agencies are doing to “investigate and address threats posed by outside groups to safety on college campuses” and how they are coordinating with the Education Department to address “investigations of antisemitic harassment and discrimination.”
The investigation announced by Cassidy on Thursday is the latest undertaken by the federal government since the fiery protests began roughly 17 months ago. Antisemitic conduct associated with the demonstrations has prompted well over 100 civil rights investigations and prompted President Donald Trump to threaten to pull funding from schools facilitating such behavior.
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He followed through on that threat by pulling $400 million in funding from Columbia University, which was at the center of the protests.
Cassidy’s investigation is not the first one into American Muslims for Palestine. The group was also ordered by a court to hand over its finances last year as part of an investigation by Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares into alleged ties the group has to Hamas.
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