(The Center Square) – U.S. House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith, R-Mo., is publicly calling on IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel to revoke the tax-exempt status of a network of pro-Palestinian groups around the U.S. for “inciting riots and violence, supporting illegal activity, and conducting other activity contrary to the public good.”
Smith sent letters to Werfel about the groups, which include Americans for Justice in Palestine Educational Foundation and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), “in conjunction with its fiscally sponsored project Students for Justice in Palestine.”
SJP has helped coordinate and spark the outbreak of protests on college campuses around the country, many of which are under investigation by the Department of Education for reports of antisemitism and calls to violence.
“AMP also holds suspected ties to designated terrorist organizations despite holding tax-exempt status as a nonprofit organization,” the letter said, pointing to reports of alleged financial ties to Hamas.
AMP is just one of several groups highlighted by Smith in his letter to Werfel calling for a review and revocation of the network of pro-Palestine and pro-Hamas groups.
Hamas is formally considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department and was behind the Oct. 7 massacre of Israelis that kicked off the Israel and Hamas war in the region.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee launched a similar investigation earlier this year.
“For example, three individuals formerly associated with the Holy Land Foundation – an organization now designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a terrorist organization for providing funding to Hamas – have worked for or on behalf of AMP,” the letter said. “Additionally, four individuals previously linked to the Islamic Association for Palestine – another organization previously found civilly liable for supporting Hamas – have worked for or on behalf of AMP as well. Further, at least one individual formerly associated with another organization which coordinated with Hamas leaders and contributed to affiliated organizations, KindHearts for Charitable Development, is also linked to AMP.”
Christina Jump, the civil litigation department head at the Muslim Legal Fund of America, told The Center Square that AMP should not lose its exempt status, arguing that AMP has broken no laws, does not support antisemitism and has cooperated with all Congressional inquiries.
"People may disagree with AMP’s education on Palestine and its history and culture," Jump told The Center Square. "Representative Smith may disagree with AMP’s education efforts on Palestine and its history and culture. And that’s fine. But it does not endanger any organization’s financial or nonprofit status to express a viewpoint."
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares recently opened an investigation into AMP and AJP.
Smith is not the first to bring up the terrorist connections for these controversial, tax-exempt groups, which are generally prohibited from engaging in most overtly political activity to retain their status.
However, protests and college chapters, advocacy and related activity is generally allowed for nonprofit status organizations.
Whether Werfel will comply with the lawmakers’ request remains to be seen. The IRS did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
“Tax-exempt status is a privilege, not a right, and in exchange, organizations must operate for stated exempt purposes. The Ways and Means Committee will continue putting pressure on the Biden-Harris Administration until it stands up to the pro-Hamas wing of the Democrat Party and puts a stop to this antisemitic and anti-American behavior once and for all.”
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