The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has launched a grand jury investigation into the finances of activist groups associated with businessman Neville Roy Singham. Sam Lyman, a former speechwriter for Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and current head of research at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, described the probe as a significant development in federal scrutiny of the network.
Lyman stated that activists linked to the Singham network have been instrumental in organizing protests across the United States against artificial intelligence infrastructure and data center developments. His institute released a report asserting that approximately $23.6 billion in proposed AI and data center investments have been delayed, scaled back, or blocked due to campaigns where the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) played a key role.
The report identifies the PSL as a significant organizing arm of the Singham network, detailing its participation in 21 campaigns across 14 states that opposed AI infrastructure projects. These campaigns have resulted in 10 local data center moratoria, one permanent ban, and four rejected or withdrawn projects, according to the report's case studies. Locations cited include Charlotte, N.C.; Prince George's County, Md.; DeForest, Wisc.; Monterey Park, Calif.; Denver; Tucson, Ariz.; and Athens, Ga., among others.
While acknowledging that legitimate local concerns exist regarding water use, electricity demand, and land use, the report argues that Singham-linked activists have amplified these issues through coordinated organizing and political pressure, potentially slowing the nation's data center buildout. The report cites examples such as Charlotte, where PSL organizers helped advocate for a 150-day moratorium on new data centers, and Prince George's County, where opposition efforts contributed to a pause in approvals for a proposed $5 billion tech park.
In DeForest, Wisc., the report notes that PSL organizers joined local opposition to a proposed $12 billion data center campus, which ultimately led the developer to withdraw the project. In Southern California, the PSL's Los Angeles chapter was involved in a coalition that resulted in Monterey Park enacting the state's first permanent municipal ban on new data centers.
Lyman characterized the Singham network as one of the most "subversive political networks" in the United States, suggesting a pattern of agitation against what the network terms "American empire." He pointed to the network's involvement in protests against Israel's actions in Gaza, opposition to former President Trump's immigration policies, and its current focus on the technology industry.
The report also links Singham-funded nonprofits, including CodePink, Tricontinental, People's Dispatch, and Liberation News, to publications opposing American AI development and criticizing major tech companies. Lyman highlighted the network's organizational effectiveness, stating that its members are adept at voter mobilization, organizing protests, and petition drives.
The investigation by the Justice Department's Southern District of New York signifies a growing awareness in Washington of Singham's influence. The report advocates for increased transparency regarding the funding sources of organizations linked to Singham and the PSL, arguing that the public should be aware of who is financing campaigns that aim to shape the country's AI infrastructure.