Missouri attorney general launches investigation into Students for Justice in Palestine
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., (KBSI) — Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced Wednesday that her office has launched an investigation into the fundraising and charitable solicitation activities of Students for Justice in Palestine in Missouri.
The Attorney General’s Office said the investigation follows concerns raised in public reports about the organization’s fundraising practices and alleged connections between its efforts and organizations whose resources could ultimately reach terrorist groups.
Hanaway said her office will investigate how donations are solicited and where money collected from Missourians is directed.
Students for Justice in Palestine is a campus-based organization with chapters across the country, including at the University of Missouri, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Washington University in St. Louis and Missouri State University.
The Attorney General’s Office said it is issuing civil investigative demands to the University of Missouri chapter and National Students for Justice in Palestine. The demands seek records related to the solicitation, collection, reporting and handling of charitable funds in or from Missouri.
The office said it is investigating whether SJP affiliates, agents or representatives violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act through possible deception, fraud, false promises, misrepresentation, unfair practices or the concealment of material information related to charitable solicitations.
The investigation also follows scrutiny of statements and materials released by National SJP and some campus chapters after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The Attorney General’s Office cited materials it said praised or endorsed the attack, including a National SJP “Day of Resistance” toolkit.
The civil investigative demands are part of an investigation and do not constitute a finding of wrongdoing.
The Attorney General’s Office said it will review the records produced in response to the demands and continue its investigation based on the information it receives.
