Anti-Israel group with alleged terrorism ties ordered by judge to turn over finances

An anti-Israel group is being ordered to open its books and produce sprawling records on its finances as part of an investigation led by a state attorney general into its alleged ties to Hamas, a Virginia judge ruled Tuesday.

Judge Richard B. Campbell for the Richmond Circuit Court ruled that American Muslims for Palestine is required to comply with a Civil Investigative Demand issued by Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is concerned about whether AMP is violating its charitable status through unlawful fundraising and whether the group “may have used funds raised for impermissible purposes,” including “benefiting or providing support to terrorist organizations." AMP, also known as the AJP Educational Foundation, is being sued by the family of a teenager named David Boim, who was killed in 2004 by terrorists in the West Bank. The Boim family says AMP is connected to Hamas.

"I'm pleased with the court's decision," Miyares told the Washington Examiner.

AMP is based in Falls Church, Virginia, according to tax records. On Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked Israel last year, the group notably put out a statement blaming the Jewish state for being “the root cause of violence and unrest” in the Middle East. AMP is closely affiliated with Students for Justice in Palestine, the national college campus group protesting across the United States against Israel after the Oct. 7 attack.

Miyares's request for records pressed AMP to turn over any financial audits, payment processing information, checks, ATM withdrawal records, communications about charitable solicitation, and other records.

"Have you provided any funds or permitted the use of funds raised by a solicitation or by contribution to benefit or provide support, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to terrorists, terrorist organizations, terrorist activities, or to family members of any terrorist, including the organization known as Hamas that was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States Department of State in 1997?", the records request asked.

In a statement to the Washington Examiner, attorney Christina Jump for AMP said the group "looks forward to getting clarity from the AG's office on what else it seeks for 'compliance' with Virginia statutes," adding that "in court today for the first time, the AG's attorney claimed AMP needs to still file retroactive registrations for past years. If that satisfies the compliance concern of the AG's office, AMP will gladly comply."

"If instead and as its press release today implies the AG's office still seeks information protected by federal constitutional rights and Supreme Court precedent, we will appeal," Jump said. "No state court can override federal constitutional protections, and we do not believe the Court intended otherwise today."

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This story has been updated with comment from AMP lawyer Christina Jump.