Hasan Piker faces federal inquiry after delivering aid to Cuba

The government is looking into whether a streamer's humanitarian mission to Cuba broke strict U.S. travel and trade rules.

It is hard to know if helping people in need is a good deed or a legal risk. For Hasan Piker, a trip meant to bring medical supplies to a country in crisis has turned into a federal investigation.

What happened

Hasan Piker and Medea Benjamin of the group CodePink traveled to Cuba earlier this year. They were part of a group called the Nuestra América Convoy. The goal was to deliver medical supplies to local hospitals.

Now, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has served them with subpoenas. The government wants to know if the trip broke U.S. rules on travel or money transfers.

Investigators are looking at how the trip was paid for and where the group stayed. They want to see if the group used hotels that are on a restricted list linked to the Cuban military.

What the evidence shows

• The trip took place in March 2026.
• The group delivered medical supplies to pediatric hospitals.
• OFAC issued Requests for Information to Piker and Benjamin.
• Investigators are checking if the group stayed at hotels on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List.
• The inquiry focuses on travel financing, logistics, and prohibited transactions.

The bigger question

This story forces us to look at how U.S. policy impacts regular people in other countries. When we put strict rules on a nation, does it hurt the government or the sick children in hospitals?

We should ask why the government focuses on those bringing aid while other issues go unaddressed. Is the goal to stop bad actors, or is it to make it impossible for citizens to help those in need?

The other side

Piker and Benjamin argue that their trip was a humanitarian mission to help civilians during a crisis. They claim the government is trying to punish them for delivering aid to a country that is already struggling. This defense relies on the moral argument that saving lives should not be a crime.

What happens now

For now, this is a civil matter. A subpoena is not a criminal charge. However, if the government finds proof of willful rule-breaking, it could lead to fines or further legal action.

This case could change how activists plan future aid trips. It shows that even well-meaning travel can lead to deep legal trouble under current U.S. sanctions.

What we still don't know

1. What specific evidence led the government to issue these subpoenas?
2. Will the government pursue fines against the participants?
3. How will this investigation change the rules for future humanitarian aid groups?

SOURCE NOTE

: All charges are allegations - Hasan Piker is presumed innocent until proven guilty.*