Lawmakers sound alarm on foreign influence

House Foreign Affairs Committee members warn of a network of activists, nonprofits and social media influencers allegedly amplifying hostile messages from foreign adversaries through America's open democracy.

CodePink activists removed from hearing

CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin and two activists were escorted out by Capitol Police after positioning themselves behind witnesses in pro-Iran and pro-Cuba T-shirts during a hearing on covert foreign influence operations.

Neville Roy Singham funds six nonprofits

Communist tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham, who married CodePink co-founder Jodie Evans in 2017, has funneled 285 million dollars to six pro-China, pro-communist nonprofits including CodePink, according to a Fox News investigation.

Modern Trojan horse explained

The modern Trojan horse isn't wooden but a network of activists, nonprofits and influencers that foreign governments can fund or exploit to carry their messages through America's open democracy.

“They're coming in, trying to look like one thing, but we know that once they're inside the gates that those doors are going to spring open.”

Huizenga calls it political theater

Rep. Bill Huizenga said the CodePink activists' disruption was planned political theater designed to generate social media content for attention, donations and volunteers.

“This isn't about discourse. This is about disruption.”

Transparency is the solution

Lawmakers say exposing who finances and amplifies political messaging through transparency and disclosure is the best defense against foreign influence operations.

“Transparency. Transparency is the watchword.”

Baumgartner warns of social media influence

Rep. Michael Baumgartner says foreign governments exploit America's open system through social media, universities and other institutions to influence domestic debates.

“We need to know who's behind it and what their motivations are.”

FARA enforcement as potential remedy

Rep. Baumgartner suggests that if organizations act on behalf of foreign governments without complying with disclosure laws, the matter could be referred to the Justice Department, which oversees the Foreign Agent Registration Act.

Fine describes cognitive warfare threat

Rep. Randy Fine characterizes foreign influence through social media, influencers and protests as cognitive warfare designed to destabilize America by poisoning minds and creating division.

“Using our information platforms to try to poison people's minds and to create division from within.”

Issa warns of AI as battleground

Rep. Darrell Issa argues that foreign adversaries benefit when American political pressure slows U.S. technological development, making artificial intelligence another front in foreign influence operations.

“We are in a war in which the other side uses all the clandestine tools.”

It's a coordinated network

Lawmakers stress viewing the organizations under examination as an interconnected network rather than independent entities, with the same people appearing across different organizations, rallies and protests.

“It's a network. It's not independent organizations or even people.”

Singham denies Chinese government direction

Singham and CodePink deny taking direction from the Chinese government. Singham says his activities reflect his own political beliefs, while Benjamin says CodePink doesn't receive money from the Chinese Communist Party.

Grand jury investigation underway

The Justice Department and U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York have convened a grand jury investigation into alleged money laundering, bank fraud and wire fraud by Singham and the organizations he funded.

Origins aren't organic

Huizenga alleged that funding relationships deserve scrutiny because the origins of activism often aren't organic but are fed by outside organizations and even foreign countries.

“Oftentimes, it's frankly the origins aren't organic, or if there is a part of it being organic, this is getting fed by outside organizations.”

Benjamin continues activism outside hearing

After being escorted out, Medea Benjamin positioned herself outside the hearing room, recorded videos and confronted Rep. Fine in the hallway, then CodePink posted edited footage on social media.

Theater produces lasting social media impact

The physical protest ended but the images it produced traveled widely on social media, illustrating why lawmakers say Americans should look beyond spectacle to understand who finances and amplifies political messaging.