EXCLUSIVE: Grassley Launches Congressional Inquiry Into Code Pink, People’s Forum Over CCP Ties

WASHINGTON—Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is launching a congressional inquiry into radical groups Code Pink and The People’s Forum over their ties to communist China, The Daily Wire can first report.

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel first obtained by The Daily Wire, Grassley emphasizes the Justice Department’s “duty to ensure compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA),” a law requiring individuals to register with the department if they are acting as an agent of a foreign government or enterprise that is trying to influence American policy.

The People’s Forum is a New York City-based nonprofit that describes itself as a “political education and cultural hub.” The organization’s main financial contributor is Neville Roy Singham, whose wife is Jodie Evans, the founder of Code Pink. Code Pink is a far-left anti-war group known for its antisemitism and ties to China. The New York Times reported in 2023 that the group is not only part of a “lavishly funded influence campaign” working closely with “the Chinese government media machine” to promote the CCP — it has also gone as far as defending the Chinese detention of Uyghur Muslims.

Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, noted that he has conducted FARA oversight for “multiple administrations.” He argues that The People’s Forum is “an alter ego of the communist Chinese government and actively parrots its propaganda in conjunction with Code Pink.”

“The evidence suggests that The People’s Forum and Code Pink have been funded and influenced by Mr. Singham and the communist Chinese government, both of which are foreign principals,” Grassley writes. “The evidence also suggests that The People’s Forum and Code Pink have engaged in covered political activities that directly advance the communist Chinese government’s political and policy interests.”

“Secretive foreign lobbying and public relations campaigns by China and other adversaries to influence policy in Congress and public opinion undermines the political will of the American people and their interests. The People’s Forum and Code Pink’s reported role in advancing policies in favor of the communist Chinese government is more than alarming and their potential obligation to register as foreign agents for purposes of FARA ought to be investigated.”

The senator calls on the Justice Department to share what it has done to assess whether the The People’s Forum and Code Pink should register under FARA, “given their reported connections with the communist Chinese government.” He also asks whether the Justice Department has sent a letter of inquiry or of determination to the organizations and their agents about their efforts to influence policy, and if not, why.

“Did The People’s Forum, Code Pink, or their agents ever request an advisory opinion from DOJ on whether they should be required to register under FARA? If so, please provide a copy of the request and opinion,” he writes.

He added: “Has DOJ investigated any ongoing covered political activity by The People’s Forum or Code Pink in the years since these lobbying and public relations efforts occurred?”

The FBI and Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Daily Wire. As recently as April 3, Code Pink activists in the United States Capitol argued with Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), who unleashed on Code Pink activists as they argued with him about aid to Israel.

“Oh, you’re the China people!” responded Hawley, who has argued with the Code Pink activists previously. “You are 100% funded by the Chinese Communist Party.”