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The political streamer Hasan Piker broke his silence after federal officials served him with a subpoena as part of an investigation into possible violations of sanctions against Cuba, and he responded with a comparison that sparked immediate controversy on social media.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, issued subpoenas to Piker and to the co-founder of CodePink, Susan Medea Benjamin, as part of a broader investigation into whether U.S. organizations and leaders violated laws and sanctions by supporting the Cuban communist regime.
Piker responded to the news with a message on X in which he stated: “The American government would rather try to criminalize the delivery of aid to a country we have starved, than punish the Epstein class.”
Benjamin, for his part, also reacted on the same social media platform: "Is bringing medical supplies to pediatric hospitals in Cuba now a crime? Is saving the lives of babies a crime? This administration is beyond the grotesque."
Piker also shared Benjamin's message on his own social media.
The research originates from their participation in the so-called "Nuestra América Convoy," a mission that arrived in Havana on March 21, 2026, with approximately 650 delegates from 33 countries and 120 organizations, and reported having transported nearly 20 tons of humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and solar panels.
The CodePink delegation, composed of around 160 individuals, delivered 6,000 pounds of aid directly to the Cuban Ministry of Health. Among the convoy participants were Jeremy Corbyn, Pablo Iglesias, Chris Smalls, and the musical group Kneecap.
The OFAC is examining whether the activists funded, coordinated, or delivered goods to Cuba in a way that could violate the sanctions regime, and it is also investigating potential contacts with regime officials. According to reports, the investigation could involve around 40 individuals and additional subpoenas may be issued.
Senator Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, praised the investigation on X with a direct message to the Treasury Department: "Well. Hasan Piker and CodePink went to Cuba, stayed in five-star hotels, mingled with the thugs of the communist regime, and completely ignored the innocent political prisoners who are being starved and tortured."
Scott demanded that both be "thoroughly investigated and held accountable for any laws they may have broken," and he explicitly thanked the Department of the Treasury for the action.
So far, no formal criminal charges have been reported against Piker, Benjamin, or other participants in the convoy. Civil violations of OFAC sanctions against Cuba can incur fines of up to $111,308 per infraction, while willful violations can involve fines of up to $1,000,000 and up to 10 years of imprisonment for individuals.
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