Hasan Piker Faces Federal Investigation Over Cuba Visit

Left-wing political influencer Hasan Piker is under scrutiny amidst reports of a U.S. federal investigation. The focus is on whether he breached U.S. laws and sanctions during a visit to Cuba. Fox News Digital reported that Piker, along with Susan Medea Benjamin—co-founder of activist group CodePink—received subpoenas related to their trip.

During a livestream with his audience, Piker expressed his concern over the situation. “The news is not great,” he admitted. Despite his frustration, he managed some humor, responding to viewers by jokingly chanting, “Yeah, free me. Free me. Free me.” In relation to public concerns, investigative analyst Stu Smith noted that Piker acknowledges the gravity of the situation.

Piker revealed getting a voicemail from a Fox News producer about his subpoena but noted the news emerged online before he could issue a response. Newsweek stated it could not verify the subpoenas and has sought comments from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Piker.

Details of the Investigation

On March 10, Piker posted on Instagram, declaring he was visiting Cuba. However, U.S. sanctions—under the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR)—generally block economic interactions with Cuba. Exceptions exist for journalism, humanitarian efforts, and educational activities. Piker assured his audience, “everything we did was cleared by Treasury.”

The investigation seeks financial, logistical, and communication details concerning the March trip. Both Piker and Benjamin aimed to examine if the visit violated U.S. sanctions on Cuba. The “Nuestra América Convoy,” led by groups within the Singham network, included 650 delegates from 33 countries. Fox News Digital suggested that these members stayed at a hotel the U.S. government associates with Cuba’s regime, which is seen as a state sponsor of terrorism. There are indications the delegation brought supplies for Cuba’s ruling party.

While no charges have been filed, the investigation suggests a tightening of U.S. policies against foreign influence operations, especially those aiding movements the U.S. deems linked to terrorism. Piker also critiqued the U.S. Justice Department’s indictment of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, labeling it a “sham.” His concerns span beyond Cuba, with additional attention on his influence on anti-Israel sentiments.