To amend title 18, United States Code, to include rioting in the definition of racketeering activity.
Congress Proposes Treating Organized Rioting as Federal Racketeering Crime
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would change federal law to include rioting in the definition of "racketeering." This would put rioting in the same legal category as serious organized crimes like bribery, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
- By making rioting a racketeering activity, the government could use the RICO Act to prosecute entire organizations. This means leaders of a group could face charges for riots carried out by their members, even if the leaders were not physically present at the event.
- The policy targets people who travel across state lines or use the internet to organize, promote, or participate in a riot. It is designed to give law enforcement more tools to stop groups that are accused of using violence during protests to achieve their goals.
- If a group is found guilty of a pattern of racketeering that includes rioting, they could face severe penalties. These include up to 20 years in prison per count and the government could seize any property or money linked to the activity.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
People convicted of rioting-related offenses could face dramatically harsher penalties under RICO, including up to 20 years in prison per count and asset forfeiture. This expansion means that individuals involved in riots — even in peripheral roles — could be prosecuted as part of a criminal enterprise, similar to how organized crime members are treated. Anyone with a prior riot conviction could also face enhanced scrutiny under pattern-of-racketeering standards.
Broader Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesTed Cruz pushes legislation to use RICO to target activist groups
Senator Ted Cruz introduced a bill to add 'rioting' to the RICO Act, allowing prosecutors to charge activist groups and their funders as criminal enterprises. The bill follows protests against ICE raids and is viewed by critics as a way to target political organizers.
Congressional Republicans introduce bill targeting riot funders
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Republican colleagues introduced the Stop FUNDERs Act to hold financiers of rioters accountable. The bill amends federal law to include rioting as a racketeering predicate, enabling the DOJ to use RICO tools like asset forfeiture against coordinating entities.
Cruz doubles down against groups funding protests; FBI Director backs bill during hearing
Senator Ted Cruz urged the DOJ to 'follow the money' behind violent protests, citing the Stop FUNDERs Act. During a Senate hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel agreed that adding rioting to RICO predicate offenses would provide law enforcement with necessary tools to dismantle criminal networks.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
To amend title 18, United States Code, to include rioting in the definition of racketeering activity.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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