Lafayette Reporter

WASHINGTON – Rutgers University's Center for Security, Race and Rights is under investigation by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and all other Judiciary Republicans for allegedly financially sponsoring events that featured terrorist sympathizers and promoted antisemitism. The Senate Judiciary Committee, which has a history of working on legislation against terrorism, is concerned about the Center's activities and its potential use of taxpayer dollars and support from foreign governments.

In a letter addressed to the Rutgers University president, the senators expressed their concerns about the Center's promotion of "terrorist sympathizers" and its platforming of "radical ideologues." They highlighted the importance of evaluating the financial backing of groups that seek to legitimize violence and provide platforms for terrorist sympathizers. One of the senators, Sen. Kennedy, stated, "The work of the Center, its promotion of terrorist sympathizers, and its platforming of radical ideologues is troubling to us as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee."

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) also condemned the Center, describing one of its events as "a platform to those affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad." This bipartisan condemnation further adds to the concerns raised by the Judiciary Republicans.

To further investigate the financial support received by the Center, the senators also wrote a letter to the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, based in New York. The firm donated at least $13,000 to the Rutgers Center's Law Fellows Program over the past three years. The senators asked for written responses regarding the firm's financial support to evaluate the backing of groups that seek to legitimize violence and provide platforms for terrorist sympathizers.

The Rutgers University president and Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP have been given an opportunity to respond to the senators' inquiries. The full text of the letters can be found on the Judiciary Committee's website.

The investigation into Rutgers' Center for Security, Race and Rights highlights the growing concerns surrounding the promotion of terrorist sympathizers and the spread of antisemitism. The Senate Judiciary Committee, with its focus on rooting out support for terrorism and compensating its victims, has taken a proactive stance in evaluating the financial backing of groups involved in such activities.