Columbia University threatened with subpoenas over U.S. House antisemitism investigation

Columbia University could face subpoenas if it doesn’t comply with a U.S. House investigation into reports of rising antisemitism on college campuses.

"The committee's been requesting information for months. Columbia has stonewalled us, and this is the last chance for Columbia to comply voluntarily," House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chair Virginia Foxx told NPR.

Foxx sent a letter to Columbia University leaders on Thursday warning subpoenas would follow if university leaders don't share the information the committee has requested.

"We feel like the administration is just not taking the problem seriously," she told NPR.

The North Carolina Republican said the committee is specifically looking for information related to the encampment on campus, the occupation of Hamilton Hall, subsequent disciplinary action, and the communications of the Board of Trustee meetings.

"We want to understand how the Columbia administrators and Board of Trustee members responded to the events that unfolded on campus, and then what steps are they taking to hold all those responsible to account," she said. "This has been a very, very frustrating effort, because if they have nothing to hide, why would they not share?"

The committee has rarely issued subpoenas, Foxx said.

"We've tried to communicate in our letters that we are very serious, but the subpoena is a much more serious thing, and we hope that their lawyers will explain to them that we are due these documents," Foxx said. "We have oversight responsibility. We are due the documents, and they need to produce them."

A Columbia University spokesperson said the university is reviewing the letter from the committee.

“We are committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of