# CodePink ejected from hearing on foreign influence operations > Activists wearing pro-Iran and pro-Cuba shirts were removed from a House hearing examining foreign funding of U.S. protest groups. - Title: CodePink ejected from hearing on foreign influence operations - Summary: Activists wearing pro-Iran and pro-Cuba shirts were removed from a House hearing examining foreign funding of U.S. protest groups. Foreign governments may… - Keywords: codepink, medea benjamin, house foreign affairs committee, bill huizenga, neville roy singham, china, cuba, iran, foreign influence, capitol police, people's forum, breakthrough news - Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/politics/lawmakers-throw-out-trojan-horse-activists-engaged-american-subversion - Author: Asra Nomani - Published: 2026-09-15T00:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: codepink, medea benjamin, house foreign affairs committee, bill huizenga, neville roy singham, china, cuba, iran, foreign influence, capitol police, people's forum, breakthrough news ## Activists ejected from House hearing CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin and two activists wore pro-Iran and pro-Cuba shirts to a hearing on foreign influence. Capitol Police escorted them out after 30 minutes. ## Protest theater as foreign influence Lawmakers say CodePink's camera-ready performance demonstrated how protest theater and social media content can function as foreign influence operations. > They're using it not to affect policy, but really to enrich themselves ## The Singham network under scrutiny Tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham, who lives in Shanghai, has pumped $278 million into far-left groups promoting pro-China propaganda. CodePink received $1.33 million. ## Benjamin refuses to answer questions Outside the hearing room, Benjamin wouldn't discuss Singham funding. She slipped inside and positioned herself behind witnesses for maximum TV exposure. ## Heritage fellow confronts CodePink Mike Gonzalez spotted Benjamin and told her to stop shilling for communist tyranny. Benjamin defended herself as anti-war and denied Chinese Communist Party direction. > I'm telling Medea Benjamin that she should try to stop shilling for a communist tyranny ## Huizenga targets U.S. adversaries The chairman said China, Cuba, Iran and Russia conduct covert campaigns to weaken America through lies and censorship, using groups like CodePink as intermediaries. > America's adversaries are conducting covert influence campaigns to shape American thought and society ## People's Forum gets $22 million The New York City hub for pro-communist organizing received $22.44 million from Singham. It's part of a network that channels money to U.S.-based protest groups. ## Red-green alliance channels foreign money Gonzalez testified that far-left groups working with Islamist organizations funnel money through intermediaries to U.S. groups that organize protests and produce political messaging. ## BreakThrough News amplifies Beijing narratives The media platform received $1.098 million from Singham. It amplifies demonstrations and promotes narratives aligned with Beijing on Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela and social justice. ## Singham's Shanghai connections revealed Testimony showed Singham shares premises with a Chinese communications firm and attended a Communist Party strategic communications workshop in 2023. ## Data center campaigns linked to activists Research identified 21 campaigns in 14 states linked to the Party for Socialism and Liberation that contributed to data center moratoriums and bans, blocking AI infrastructure investment. ## Translating Beijing themes for Americans The Singham network acts as an intermediary layer, translating Beijing's themes like anti-imperialism and inequality into activist language for American audiences. > Beijing cannot simply command an American university, company, journalist, think tank or activist ## T-shirts deemed a protest Huizenga suspended the hearing to have police remove the activists. He said the shirts and their positioning constituted a protest, though they hadn't verbally disrupted proceedings. > This has been deemed to be a protest by the clerk because of the nature of the shirts ## Benjamin stages video outside hearing After removal, Benjamin positioned herself beside the committee placard to film remarks. She chased Rep. Randy Fine down the hall, then returned to finish her video. ## CodePink disrupts Treasury hearing Soon after, CodePink published videos of members heckling Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. His department is investigating CodePink for possibly violating Cuba restrictions. ## Social media clip goes live Two hours after ejection, CodePink posted a 43-second edited video of the confrontation. Far-left activists from the Singham network quickly shared it. ## Key takeaway Foreign governments may use seemingly legitimate activist groups and nonprofits as channels to influence American politics and society.