The NBA finds itself in the hot seat once again, but this time, it’s not over a controversial call or a player feud-it’s a matter of global ethics.

Two U.S. senators are turning up the heat on NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, accusing the league of cashing in at the expense of human rights.

In a blistering letter sent on Tuesday, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) didn’t hold back, slamming the NBA for what they see as a betrayal of its social justice image.

The senators are calling foul on the league’s cozy relationship with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, a leader with a reputation that would make most dictators blush.

According to an ESPN exposé, the NBA has been deepening ties with Kagame, despite his notorious record of suppressing dissent and silencing critics-sometimes with deadly force.

The league’s involvement in Rwanda, they argue, contradicts the NBA’s self-styled role as a champion of justice.

The letter pulls no punches, highlighting how the NBA’s relationship with Kagame played a crucial role in launching the Basketball Africa League, the NBA’s first major venture outside North America.

But while the league was busy expanding its brand, the senators claim it conveniently ignored Kagame’s disturbing human rights record, a record that would make even the league’s toughest critics at home look tame.

Senators demand answers: Clock ticks for NBA to justify Kagame alliance

And it doesn’t stop there. Blackburn and Merkley want answers, and they’re not asking nicely.

They’ve demanded that Silver outline exactly how deep the NBA’s ties with Kagame run and explain what, if anything, the league is doing to actually improve the lives of Rwandans living under Kagame’s regime. The clock is ticking-Silver has one week to respond.

Kagame, who’s been running Rwanda since 2000, isn’t exactly shy about his power. Just last month, he was re-elected with a whopping 99% of the vote, a result that has raised more than a few eyebrows around the world.

Meanwhile, the NBA’s Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum tried to smooth things over, telling ESPN that the league’s talks with Kagame have always been about one thing: making life better for the people of Rwanda through the power of basketball. But that explanation isn’t cutting it for the senators.

In their closing argument, the senators delivered a powerful rebuke, saying the NBA should stop “playing ball with dictators” and start using its global influence to push for real change. The message is clear: The NBA might be a powerhouse on the court, but off the court, it’s time to choose between profit and principle.