The political streamer Hasan Piker reacted this Sunday during a live stream on Twitch to the federal citation he received from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, regarding his participation in the Convoy Nuestra América to Cuba in March 2026.
Piker described the investigation as "harassment" and a tactic of intimidation, announced that he would seek legal representation, and directly responded to Republican Senator Rick Scott, who had celebrated the inquiry on the social media platform X.
"That's not great. The news isn't great, okay? I mean, it's crap, but it's still not great that they're after a guy. They're harassing him," Piker said in the early minutes of his broadcast, as reported by Fox News Digital.
In response to a follower's question, the streamer was straightforward: "Yes, I will hire a lawyer," specifying that he needs one with experience in the First Amendment and "knowledge about the OFAC."
Piker also defended the legality of his trip: "Everything we did was approved by the Department of the Treasury."
The streamer expanded his defense by arguing that the investigation does not focus "only on Cuba," but also on his role as a promoter of anti-Israeli candidates and voters. "They don't like that I speak poorly of Israel, they don't like that I'm a loudmouth, an agitator," he stated, adding, "It seems I’m going to become an example of... America's unbridled march toward fascism."
Senator Rick Scott posted on X on Sunday: "Alright. 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. They must be thoroughly investigated and held accountable for any laws they have broken."
Piker responded to the senator on the same social network: "You were investigated by federal authorities for committing Medicare fraud. If I were investigated, it would be for providing medical supplies, damn."
The reference alludes to Scott's history as the CEO of Columbia/HCA, a company that paid $1.7 billion in fines for the largest Medicare and Medicaid fraud case in U.S. history. Scott left the company in 1997 under pressure, although he was not criminally charged.
The summons for Piker and CodePink co-founder, Medea Benjamin was revealed on Sunday by Fox News Digital. Both participated in the Convoy Nuestra América, an international caravan that brought together 650 delegates from 33 countries and 120 organizations, traveling to Cuba from March 18 to March 24, 2026.
The investigation examines whether the activists financed, coordinated, or delivered prohibited goods to the Cuban regime, and whether they stayed in hotels included in the State Department's restricted list for Cuba. The CodePink delegation delivered approximately 6,300 pounds of medicine valued at $433,000 to the Cuban Ministry of Health.
Piker also dismissed speculation that Elon Musk had influenced the subpoena following the interview the streamer gave to Ashley St. Clair —mother of Musk's child, with whom he is in a custody dispute— the day before. "I still haven't received anything," he said.
The citation is part of a broader investigation by the Department of Justice and the Treasury against 145 pro-Cuba organizations with combined revenues of approximately $1 billion annually, examining around 40 individuals for their involvement in convoys and aid flotillas to Cuba during 2026. Civil violations may result in fines of up to $111,308 per case; criminal violations can lead to fines of up to $1 million and ten years in prison.
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