Federal officials, operating under the President Donald Trump administration, have issued administrative subpoenas to prominent Twitch streamer Hasan Piker and veteran activist Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CodePink. These subpoenas are part of an escalating investigation into whether U.S.-based activists violated federal sanctions laws during a delegation trip to Cuba in March. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued these formal "Requests for Information," seeking comprehensive financial, logistical, and communications records pertinent to the travel activities.
"I’m not gonna lie to you guys. It’s not great. The news is not great, Okay. Um, I mean, it’s bullsh*t, but…still not great that they’re, you know, they’re after your boy. They’re up my *ss," — Hasan Piker, Twitch Streamer.
The inquiry centers on a multinational activist trip known as the "Nuestra América Convoy," which brought together hundreds of participants from various organizations. Investigators are scrutinizing whether any aspect of the travel—including its funding, lodging arrangements, or overall coordination—was conducted through entities or channels restricted under existing U.S. sanctions law. Specifically, officials are examining if participants coordinated travel arrangements, transferred goods, or engaged with Cuban government-linked entities in ways that could run afoul of federal restrictions.
OFAC subpoenas are administrative tools designed for civil enforcement investigations. They empower the Treasury Department to compel the production of documents without the immediate necessity of filing criminal charges. These tools are frequently employed to ascertain whether further enforcement action is warranted under the Cuban Assets Control Regulations. These regulations broadly prohibit unlicensed transactions involving Cuba, with limited exceptions carved out for humanitarian, educational, or journalistic activities.
At this juncture, federal officials have not announced any formal charges or allegations of criminal wrongdoing against either Piker, Benjamin, or any other participant. However, the ongoing investigation is part of a broader federal effort involving officials from the Treasury, State, and Justice Departments. This concerted effort is focused on the enforcement of sanctions, addressing foreign influence concerns, and examining potential coordination between activist networks and foreign government entities.
Hasan Piker, who commands one of the largest political followings on Twitch, has previously garnered attention and controversy for his outspoken commentary on U.S. foreign policy and geopolitical issues. Medea Benjamin, a long-standing activist with CodePink, has been a visible figure in numerous anti-war demonstrations and international solidarity campaigns, frequently challenging established U.S. foreign policy positions. Both individuals are now subject to this wider federal review, which seeks to determine if participants in the March delegation adhered to federal sanctions requirements governing travel and associated transactions involving Cuba.
Piker publicly addressed the scrutiny during a recent livestream, acknowledging the investigation while simultaneously pushing back against its implications. "I’m not gonna lie to you guys. It’s not great. The news is not great, Okay. Um, I mean, it’s bullsh*t, but…still not great that they’re, you know, they’re after your boy. They’re up my *ss," he stated.
The federal probe is also reportedly extending its scope to examine whether nonprofit organizations or affiliated networks played any role in facilitating the logistics or coordination for the Cuba trip. Investigators are broadly looking at whether activist travel networks may have interacted with sanctioned entities or structured arrangements in a manner that could violate U.S. law.
Under federal sanctions law, OFAC enforcement actions can proceed through either civil or criminal channels. Civil penalties operate under a strict liability standard, which means that intent is not a prerequisite for a violation to occur. In contrast, criminal cases mandate that prosecutors establish willful conduct, often requiring evidence of deliberate evasion or concealment of activities. Legal analysts familiar with such cases emphasize that the issuance of administrative subpoenas does not imply guilt but rather serves as an initial step to gather information and determine the necessity of further enforcement action. Additional subpoenas are anticipated as investigators continue their review of financial records, travel coordination, and organizational ties connected to the "Nuestra América Convoy" delegation. The investigation remains ongoing, and no charges have been filed.
