1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

The Treasury Department's OFAC investigation into Hasan Piker and CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin needs to stop. These two delivered medical supplies to pediatric hospitals in Cuba as part of a humanitarian convoy. Treating that as a potential sanctions violation is a grotesque misuse of federal enforcement resources. Cuba is in the middle of an economic and energy crisis. American civilians responded by bringing aid to sick children, and now the government is scrutinizing their hotel receipts. Piker has already stated he did not stay at any restricted hotel, and investigators appear to be working off a viral social media post. That is not a credible basis for a federal subpoena. Denounce this investigation publicly and push back on OFAC's decision to target humanitarian activists. The U.S. has maintained a punishing embargo against Cuba for decades. Going after the people trying to soften that suffering, rather than holding accountable the powerful figures who have faced zero consequences for documented crimes, is exactly the wrong priority.