As confrontations intensify between agitators and federal officers in Minneapolis, new attention is turning toward the money allegedly fueling the anti-ICE unrest. Investigators say one of the primary financial backers tied to these groups is a wealthy American expatriate now living in China who has long been associated with organizations linked to far-left activism and pro-CCP messaging.
According to investigators, several activist groups have been directing, mobilizing, and communicating with agitators across Minneapolis and other cities. Two organizations repeatedly mentioned in reports are the Party for Socialism and Liberation and The People’s Forum, both accused of encouraging demonstrators to take to the streets through coordinated campaigns.
Former federal prosecutor Andrew Cherkasky said there is no mystery behind the scale of these operations, adding there is significant backing behind the groups involved. He told, “there is undoubtedly a lot of money behind” agitators in Minneapolis. He also said that if foreign money is involved, then an investigation is warranted.
Allegations Surrounding a Wealthy Expat
Reports and congressional inquiries point to American-born tech mogul Neville Roy Singham as a major financial supporter of these groups. Despite decades of scrutiny, Singham’s move to Shanghai has complicated any attempts to subpoena him, according to Cherkasky, who noted that Singham’s overseas residence shields him from direct legal compulsion.
Singham sold his IT consulting firm in 2017 for $785 million and later became the subject of a 2023 investigative exposé detailing his alleged links to Chinese Communist Party influence networks. The report claimed he funneled more than a quarter-billion dollars into dark money organizations across the United States. Many of these groups reportedly operate from vague or suspicious addresses, including generic UPS mailboxes.
The 71-year-old businessman is said to share office space with the Maku Group, a Chinese media organization supported by Singham that promotes a mission to “tell China’s story well.”
A Trail of Investigations
Singham’s history with federal scrutiny dates back to 1974 when the FBI examined whether he was “engaged in activities inimical to U.S. interests.”
Decades later, congressional committees in both chambers initiated several inquiries into Singham’s funding networks. Letters were sent across two administrations urging deeper reviews of the organizations tied to him.
In 2025, the House Oversight Committee opened an investigation into Singham’s alleged role in funding anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles. Lawmakers stated in a letter, “Mr. Singham, who resides in the People’s Republic of China, has a long track-record of assisting far-left entities, such as Code Pink, that oppose U.S. interests and support U.S. adversaries.”
Committee members added that the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which they linked to riots in Minneapolis, “has organized and is affiliated with a series of destructive protests and civil unrest.”
The organization did not respond to a request for comment.
Growing Concerns About CCP Influence
Another congressional inquiry came from the House Ways and Means Committee, which sought information about tax-exempt groups believed to promote CCP-aligned narratives. The People’s Forum was among the organizations mentioned.
In their letter, lawmakers said, “Mr. Singham is actively fueling CCP propaganda and financing indoctrination efforts abroad by providing hundreds of millions of dollars to groups that mix progressive advocacy with CCP talking points.” The letter also stated, “Despite this foreign activity and engagement with CCP-tied organizations across the world, Mr. Singham’s American-based nonprofit organizations continue to do business as usual, supporting political activity and pro-CCP propaganda.”
Other lawmakers, including senators who later took roles in the Trump administration, also sought clarity on Singham’s involvement with activist groups. The People’s Forum did not respond to a request for comment.
The Limits of Legal Reach
Singham’s presence in China complicates congressional attempts to compel his testimony. Cherkasky explained, “A subpoena can’t be enforced essentially outside of our borders.” He added that it is extremely difficult to require someone overseas to appear before Congress or participate in criminal proceedings.
However, he noted that conditions change when a citizen holds a U.S. passport. “That said, if you’re an American citizen, hold an American passport, [then] the State Department does have certain capabilities to essentially force you back to the homeland,” he said. “If there’s a criminal prosecution, an indictment, an arrest warrant, it can cause all sorts of extradition and return to the United States.”
Cherkasky also commented on the organization of protests in Minneapolis, saying there is no question they are supported in a coordinated way. “It’s undeniable that the protests that are going on in Minneapolis are supported by organizations or groups of people that are essentially collaborating to get these folks out there and engage in what turns out to be repeated acts of criminal misconduct,” he said.
FARA Questions and Financial Shadows
A central concern raised by lawmakers is Singham’s lack of registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Several committees highlighted that his involvement with CCP-aligned groups raises significant questions under federal law.
In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the Oversight Committee wrote they are “investigating CCP influence operations that may fall within the purview of [FARA] 22 U.S.C. § 611 et seq and other federal laws.”
Cherkasky noted that tracing the flow of money is difficult due to loose reporting rules surrounding nonprofit organizations. He explained, “When it comes to 501(c)(3)s, the influx of that money isn’t reportable.” He added that the structure allows donors to stay distant from the final actions of the groups they support. “The people who are funding those organizations try to distance themselves from the actual conduct of the organizations because they’re just giving money,” he said. “They don’t know what the end goal is, and they try to claim clean hands in that.”
Agitators Offer Few Answers
On the ground, individuals involved in the unrest often avoid acknowledging whether outside groups are paying them, despite allegations that organizations like the Party for Socialism and Liberation and The People’s Forum help coordinate events.
During an encounter with a reporter, one woman shouting at the scene was asked if she had a job. She responded, “I’m getting paid right now.”
Singham did not respond to a request for comment.
