Defending Press Freedom and Free Speech: PCJF Represents Organizations Targeted by Congressional Subpoenas in Modern Day Witch Hunt

Background

The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF) is providing legal representation to The People’s Forum, a movement organization, and BreakThrough News, an independent press outlet, in response to subpoenas issued by the House Ways and Means Committee. These subpoenas were issued on July 21, 2026 — the day after the Trump Administration issued its Red Scare “Cuba Report”, as Trump and his allies are setting out the machinery of the state to bring back McCarthyism as a political weapon to repress and crush growing dissent and opposition in the United States.

PCJF Executive Director Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, constitutional rights attorney and counsel to The People’s Forum and BreakThrough News, condemned the subpoenas as a direct assault on First Amendment rights, stating:

“We are providing legal defense to our clients under attack in this new witch-hunt. In the midst of the Trump Administration’s overt onslaught against free speech, the House Ways and Means Committee issued subpoenas targeting groups for their progressive organizing and journalism that the right wing wants to suppress.

“The Committee’s subpoenas are openly targeting organizations based on First Amendment-protected viewpoint and independent reporting. They seek to smear and silence those fighting for change, and to shut down media that tells the truth to the American people about the actions of their government. This is an abuse of authority and a direct assault on democratic rights. We are defending our clients’ First Amendment rights – constitutional rights that cannot be compromised – before this modern day HUAC.”

Both organizations have stated they will not be silenced by the investigation and are continuing their journalism and organizing work.

The People’s Forum stated: “These latest attacks on The People’s Forum are not about our organization alone. It is part of an escalating crusade against all progressive organizations and any group or person who expresses opposition to the ultra-right, racist, and pro-war policies of the Trump White House…Only by standing together can we defeat this assault on Free Speech rights, and defend civil liberties and civil rights.”

The People’s Forum full statement is available here.

BreakThrough News stated: “BreakThrough News is a nonprofit newsroom, which already complies with all tax, audits and public reporting requirements. We are not charged with any crime, because our only “crime” has been to tell the truth – by covering the activities of the Palestine solidarity movement, unmasking the truth of ICE’s terror in our streets, and exposing Washington’s crimes around the world, from Cuba to the Congo.

“That’s the journalism they want to shut down… This is a political witch-hunt against independent media, pure and simple. It isn’t just an attack on us. It’s an attack on all independent media and the very principles of freedom of the press – from the very politicians who campaigned on the basis of ‘defending free speech.'”

Breakthrough News’ full statement is here.

The PCJF is challenging the subpoenas as an unconstitutional and politically motivated intrusion on protected First Amendment activity.