Congress Proposes Treating Organized Rioting as Federal Racketeering Crime
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
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.
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.
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
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.
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.
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.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
To amend title 18, United States Code, to include rioting in the definition of racketeering activity.
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