Richmond judge orders alleged Hamas funder to hand over records

As Donald Trump is happily accepting a $400 million gift from Qatar, the primary funder of the Hamas political-terrorist network, Virginia’s MAGA attorney general, Jason Miyares, scored a victory in court to get another alleged Hamas funder to hand over its financial records.

Richmond Circuit Court Judge Devika E. Davis, in a May 9 ruling, ordered AJP Educational Foundation, also known as American Muslims for Palestine, to comply with the attorney general’s Civil Investigative Demand regarding its noncompliance with the state’s charitable solicitation law and an investigation into allegations that the organization may have used solicited funds for impermissible purposes, such as benefiting or providing support to terrorist organizations.

Miyares opened his office’s investigation into AJP’s ties to Hamas in 2023, but the Falls Church-based outfit has been playing the court system to its advantage for the past 18 months, stonewalling on handing over its records despite losing a run of court decisions compelling it to do so.

AJP has been a favorite target of the right because of its vocal advocacy for the creation of a Palestinian state “from the river to the sea,” a phrase that pro-Palestinian activists use as code for the destruction of the nation-state of Israel.

Miyares, in July 2023, announced that his office was looking into allegations that AJP had violated the state’s charitable solicitation laws and funneled funds to support terrorist organizations.

“When charitable organizations operating in Virginia fail to follow the law, my office has a duty to act, and we will not allow legal delay tactics to interfere with that responsibility. I will continue to ensure that charitable organizations operating in Virginia follow the law,” said Miyares, who is running for a second term heading the attorney general office in the November state elections”

AJP is also being investigated by a U.S. Senate committee for its alleged ties to Hamas, with Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy saying the group’s close ties with campus protest groups raise “serious questions” about the protest movement.

“While college campuses should welcome free speech and the free exchange of ideas, they should not be havens for terrorist organizations to exert influence or instigate conflict for their own political purposes,” Cassidy said.