Palmetto State News

U.S. Senators Tim Scott and Chuck Grassley have raised concerns about potential foreign influence on U.S. campuses, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI to investigate whether certain organizations should register as foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). They are joined by Senators Joni Ernst and Ted Cruz in this initiative.

The focus of their inquiry is the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP), which reportedly has ties to an organization linked to Hamas financing. The senators are questioning whether NSJP and its affiliated Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters across the country should be registered under FARA.

"It is incumbent upon all of us crack down on hidden foreign influence," stated the senators. They expressed concern over "the introduction of hostile foreign adversaries into domestic political discussion" and its role in increasing antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. The senators suggest that NSJP's activities may align with FARA’s definition of a "publicity agent" or constitute efforts to shape U.S. public opinion favorably towards a foreign principal.

They further emphasized, "Taken as a whole, these actions require further investigation from DOJ and the FBI to fully determine whether NSJP and SJP chapters should register as foreign agents under FARA."

The senators have cited various examples suggesting that NSJP and SJP chapters might need to register under FARA, prompting them to question DOJ and FBI about their investigative steps regarding this issue.

FARA was enacted in 1938 with the intent to expose Nazi propaganda efforts, requiring individuals acting on behalf of foreign entities to register with the DOJ. This law aims not at prohibiting activities but ensuring transparency about foreign influences on U.S. policy and public opinion.

Read the full letter here.