A retired FBI agent who led the investigation into the Holy Land Foundation trial told a Senate subcommittee on Wednesday that a network supporting Hamas within the United States remained active well after the 2008 convictions of the Texas-based charity and its officials. The network, according to the testimony, continues to operate under different organizational guises, including the Council on Arab and Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other advocacy groups.

Lara Burns, who led the federal investigation from 2001 to 2008, detailed the findings before the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights. She highlighted evidence uncovered during the trial of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), which was convicted of providing material support to Hamas. The government presented extensive documentation of a longstanding conspiracy involving the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas to funnel financial resources and promote their ideology through front organizations in the United States.

Burns recounted a 1993 FBI wiretap of a meeting in Philadelphia involving leaders of the Palestine Committee, identified as part of this network. During the meeting, participants discussed strategies to support Hamas abroad and to embed extremist ideas domestically, including efforts to influence universities, media, and political arenas. The group reportedly aimed to "normalize Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood extremist ideology" within American society while reshaping curricula to prevent what they described as "surrendering to the idea of peace with Jews."

The witness emphasized that while Hamas was anticipated to be designated a terrorist organization — a status it officially received in 2001 — members adapted by presenting their activities under legitimate covers. The Holy Land Foundation’s role before the designation was primarily financial, supporting Hamas’s social infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank.

Burns identified CAIR as a key player, asserting that the group functions to defend and shield other elements of the Hamas support network and to influence public narratives. She noted that Nihad Awad, CAIR’s co-founder and current executive director, attended the 1993 meeting. While the original conspiracy framework has evolved, Burns said, many tactics such as pressure and intimidation remain central to their efforts.

When questioned by senators, Burns affirmed her belief that components of the network, including CAIR, remain active and connected to the Muslim Brotherhood. She further cited two other organizations — Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) — as linked to this network. All three groups, she said, have reframed violent acts attributed to Hamas as legitimate resistance or self-defense, reflecting messaging consistent with Hamas leadership, especially following the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Burns alleged that CAIR and AMP have continued to co-sponsor events with anti-Israel messaging and that CAIR has financially supported SJP members accused of violating campus conduct codes. She maintained these actions aligned with the agenda set by the 1993 conspiracy, which she argued remains ongoing.

In her testimony, Burns urged federal agencies, including the FBI, IRS, and Department of Justice, to initiate criminal investigations into these organizations for potential violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act and laws prohibiting material support to foreign terrorist organizations. She also recommended enhanced oversight and transparency requirements for nonprofit organizations, especially regarding foreign donations, and called for reforms to federal laws related to providing material support to terrorist groups.

Additionally, Burns suggested that K-12 schools be required to report any foreign funding to prevent the infiltration of extremist influences at the education level.