INDIANA – On the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas against Israel, Attorney General Todd Rokita opened investigations into the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) to determine whether these organizations constitute affiliates of a foreign terrorist organization under Indiana law.
In civil investigative demands issued to CAIR and SJP, Attorney General Rokita asks the organizations to produce documents and communications about the activities in which they engaged in the wake of the October 7 Attack, including actions in which the organizations may have engaged to foment anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment in the United States. The office also seeks records concerning the organizations’ ties to other groups and individuals with known connections to terrorists.
“Through unedited body-camera and security-camera footage from that horrible day, I have seen Hamas murdering unarmed civilians, including children, in their homes and in the street, and while visiting Israel I have seen the aftermath firsthand,” Attorney General Rokita said. “October 7th is Israel’s 9/11, and just as most of the world stood with us on that day and afterward, the majority of my fellow Hoosiers stand with Israel and against the bigoted barbarity directed at Jews that still exists. As attorney general, I am investigating organizations that may have given aid and support to Hamas in the wake of the October 7 attack. I will follow the evidence and take all action I can to expose bigots and make clear that terrorist supporters are not welcome in the great Hoosier state.”
Attorney General Rokita is taking this action using new authority created by legislation that his office helped draft with State Rep. Matt Commons and State Sen. Chris Garten, and that the Indiana General Assembly passed last legislative session. The new law became effective in July of this year.
“Last session, we worked hard to ensure our land, businesses and institutions are safeguarded from adversarial threats,” Commons said. “I am grateful for the strong actions of the Attorney General and the investigations that will result because of this new law to combat foreign terrorist influence on Indiana campuses.”
The statute establishes a clear process by which the State may investigate and take action against groups that are affiliates of foreign terrorist organizations:
- The Attorney General may issue civil investigative demands when he has reasonable cause to believe an entity may be an “affiliate of a foreign terrorist organization,” as that term is defined by Indiana Code § 4-6-17-1.
- Based on the results of his investigation, the Attorney General will then prepare a written determination on whether the organization is an affiliate of a foreign terrorist organization and, if he determines the organization is a terrorist affiliate, he will provide the organization with 30 days to respond to the determination.
- The Attorney General then submits the final determination, supporting evidence, and the organization’s response to the governor.
- The Governor then decides whether to formally designate the entity as a terrorist affiliate.
A designated affiliate is denied state funds, contracts, tax benefits, and other state privileges.
The demands issued to CAIR and SJP are the first step in the process by which the State will evaluate and determine whether a terrorist affiliate designation may be warranted for these organizations.
Each organization will be given a full opportunity to respond to the Attorney General’s questions before any further action is taken.
