U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has joined forces with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) to introduce the Stop Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots (Stop FUNDERs) Act. This legislation aims to add rioting, as defined by the federal anti-riot statute, to the list of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act predicate offenses. The change would allow the Department of Justice to utilize RICO tools against entities funding or coordinating violent interstate riots.
“Radical, left-wing groups who fund acts of violence, coordinate attacks against law enforcement, and spearhead the destruction of property must be stopped,” stated Sen. Cornyn. He emphasized that this legislation seeks to address lawless behavior while safeguarding First Amendment rights.
Senator Cruz remarked on the right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest but highlighted that violence is not acceptable. “Domestic NGOs and foreign adversaries fund and use riots in the United States to undermine security,” he said, urging for swift passage of his legislation.
Congresswoman Van Duyne pointed out that treating violent activists as individual criminals should end. She called for empowering law enforcement with tools like those proposed in the Stop FUNDERS Act to address organized crime effectively.
The bill has gained support from Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Josh Hawley (R-MO).
Recent events in Los Angeles have seen left-wing groups allegedly coordinating with violent rioters who attacked police and destroyed property. The Stop FUNDERs Act proposes amendments allowing joint liability, group prosecution, conspiracy charges, asset forfeiture, and enhanced criminal penalties against organizations involved in such activities.
The bill also aims to deter abuse of nonprofit status and expose financial pipelines behind politically motivated violence. It has received endorsements from Heritage Action and the National Right to Work Committee.
