Congress·In Committee·S. 2376

Sen. Cruz Introduces Bill to Classify Rioting as Racketeering Under RICO Act

A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to include rioting in the definition of racketeering activity.

8 months ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

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Key Points

This bill would add rioting to the federal definition of racketeering activity under RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act). RICO was originally designed to dismantle organized crime networks like the mafia, and this change would extend those powerful tools to people involved in organizing riots.
From policy text
“Section 1961(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``section 2101 (relating to riots),'' before ``sections 2251''.”
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The bill was introduced by Sen. Cruz along with six Republican co-sponsors — Sens. Lee, Tillis, Hawley, Cornyn, Tuberville, and Hagerty — and has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
From policy text
“Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Lee, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Tuberville, and Mr. Hagerty) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary”
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If enacted, federal prosecutors could pursue RICO charges — which carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison and asset forfeiture — against people who organize, fund, or participate in a pattern of rioting activity. This is a major escalation from the existing federal riot statute, which carries a maximum of 5 years.
Civil liberties groups are likely to raise concerns that expanding RICO to cover rioting could chill First Amendment-protected protest activity, since the federal riot statute (18 U.S.C. § 2101) has a broad definition that can encompass actions at protests that turn violent, even if a person's intent was peaceful.

Criminal JusticeCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jul 22, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Jul 22, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Upon enactment

If enacted, rioting immediately becomes a RICO predicate offense

Federal prosecutors could begin building racketeering cases against people alleged to have organized or participated in a pattern of riot activity, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison and asset seizure.

Related News

3 articles

Houston Chronicle·8 months ago

Ted Cruz pushes legislation to use RICO to target activist groups

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a bill to add 'rioting' to the list of activities prohibited by the RICO Act. The change would allow the government to charge organizers, funders, and logistical supporters of rioters as a group, targeting domestic NGOs and foreign adversaries.

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Washington Examiner·8 months ago

Could antifa co-conspirators ever face federal RICO charges?

Sen. Ted Cruz has introduced an amendment to the RICO statute that would add rioting to the list of predicate acts. By broadening RICO's scope, the federal government could pursue those providing financial and logistical support to coordinated uprisings, such as those against ICE.

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Chron·8 months ago

Ted Cruz wants to use RICO laws on alleged protest funders

The Stop FUNDERs Act would classify protest funding as a racketeering offense. Cruz stated the bill is necessary to address 'real money' behind protests involving Antifa, Black Lives Matter, and anti-ICE activists, aiming to expose financial pipelines behind politically motivated violence.

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