(DCNF)—A Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) chapter under investigation for its financial activity says it received more than $7 million in taxpayer funds between 2022 and 2024. Research by watchdog groups suggests the true amount is much higher.
CAIR California documented the funds in the “government grants” section of its tax forms, but a November report by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCIR) and Intelligent Advocacy Network (IAN) found that it received at least $26 million in government grants across 2022 and 2023 alone and failed to properly report them, citing public documents they obtained.
IAN previously filed a complaint in March about the self-described Muslim civil rights group’s financial transparency issues and alleged ties to Hamas terrorists, prompting the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate its eligibility for immigration-related grants, the Daily Caller News Foundation previously reported. California’s Fair Political Practices Commission is also probing the chapter in response to another IAN complaint, a June letter from the agency shows.
“These unfounded allegations are part of a larger defamation campaign targeting American Muslims by fringe anti-Muslim groups who intentionally misrepresent public documents and information to create a false narrative,” CAIR California told the DCNF without addressing specific findings. “All contributions and grants that CAIR-CA receives are reported, accounted for, and subjected to rigorous internal and external auditing and reporting, which is why both private and public funders have worked and continue to work with CAIR-CA.”
The November study found that CAIR California obscured its lavish taxpayer funding in 2022 and 2023 by reporting much of it under “contributions and grants” instead of “government grants.” The chapter reported $7,063,797 in government grants in its 2024 filing — around 37% of its revenue that year — after marking down just $127,269 in 2023 and zero in 2022. The 2024 document with the higher amount was filed in November, months after IAN began publicly criticizing CAIR California’s financial activity.
“Whether what they have declared for 2024 is accurate remains to be seen,” George, the group’s CEO, told the DCNF.
CAIR California also claimed the November report “falsely” accused the chapter of raising “thousands of dollars for students engaged in campus protests” in comments to the DCNF, referencing coverage from The New York Post that it disputes. The original report by IAN and the NCRI highlighted how CAIR California officials posted an outside organization’s link for donating to anti-Israel college protesters, spoke at multiple schools’ encampment protests, encouraged social media followers to provide supplies to campus demonstrators and started an education fund for students “targeted for their pro-Palestine advocacy,” including protesters.
The chapter has also drawn controversy through the years for its leaders’ comments praising or dodging questions about Hamas terrorists.
Hussam Ayloush, who leads CAIR California’s Los Angeles office, accused an interviewer of “bigotry” and “racism” in 2013 for asking if his organization condemns Hamas, stating generally that CAIR condemns violence. Zahra Billoo, the head of CAIR California’s San Francisco Bay Area office, referred to the Islamic group’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel as “decolonization” and celebrated a deceased Hamas leader for his “martyrdom” in X posts.
IAN’s March complaint to the DOJ emphasized that the department listed CAIR as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 trial of Palestinian activists convicted of providing material support to Hamas. Prosecutors said the terrorist group formed a committee with CAIR and other advocacy organizations to advance its political agenda in the U.S. under the guise of activism. CAIR has long denied ties to terrorism.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
JD’s manually curated links for God-fearing MAGA patriots
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.