Republican lawmakers Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., have publicly demanded that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent investigate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), alleging ties to Hamas and other terrorist groups. In a statement, the lawmakers emphasized that CAIR’s leadership, public rhetoric, and advocacy activities raise significant national security concerns, potentially constituting material support for terrorism. They argued that the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has the legal authority to probe whether CAIR’s operations violate U.S. sanctions against terrorist entities. The request comes amid heightened scrutiny of groups perceived to have links to extremist organizations, particularly following recent tensions in the Middle East.
CAIR, which describes itself as a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization founded in 1994, has consistently denied allegations of supporting Hamas or any foreign entity. The group has called such claims