Bill Cassidy announces investigation into terrorist-tied campus groups – Washington Examiner
Senator bill Cassidy (R-LA) has initiated an examination into the activities of the group American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) on college campuses, focusing on its alleged connections to Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. This declaration was made during a Senate hearing as part of a broader examination of possible terrorist links to anti-Israel protests occurring on campuses since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza in October 2023.
Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health, education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, has reached out to multiple universities—such as UCLA, George Washington University, Columbia, and Barnard College—requesting details about AMPS activities and its relationships with affiliated organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine, known for orchestrating campus protests.
In his letters, Cassidy emphasized that threatening behavior is not protected under free speech and raised concerns that college campuses should not be environments for terrorist groups. He has also sought information from officials, including the Attorney General and FBI Director, to understand how federal agencies are addressing these issues.
This investigation adds to ongoing federal scrutiny regarding antisemitism and related incidents linked to campus demonstrations, which have led to numerous civil rights investigations and threats of federal funding cuts to schools facilitating biased behavior. Cassidy’s actions signal important governmental concern about the intersection of campus activism, safety, and affiliations with terrorist organizations.
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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