Overview
- - The committee held a Feb. 10 hearing titled “Foreign Influence in American Non-profits: Unmasking Threats from Beijing and Beyond,” chaired by Rep. Jason Smith.
- - Smith sent letters demanding documents from BreakThrough BT Media and Tricontinental as part of an investigation into ties to Neville Roy Singham.
- - Committee materials and member statements cited Tricontinental’s more than $2.1 million in payments to Shanghai-based Maku Group and roughly $20 million in donations to the People’s Forum attributed to the so-called Singham network.
- - Witnesses described a multi-layered flow of funds via LLCs and donor‑advised funds to pass‑through nonprofits, with one calling it a coordinated $100 million system; lawmakers noted Singham could not be compelled to testify from Shanghai.
- - Republicans warned groups found to be conduits for foreign propaganda could face revocation of 501(c)(3) status or FARA scrutiny, while Democrats argued the focus selectively targets progressive organizations.