Trump is calling for sweeping legal action against left-leaning protest groups, invoking a powerful federal statute once aimed at the mafia, following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
US President Donald Trump said he is consulting with Attorney General Pam Bondi on using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to bring charges against groups he accuses of inciting violence. He has also singled out billionaire philanthropist George Soros, a major donor to Democratic causes, suggesting he should face investigation under the same law – despite providing no evidence of wrongdoing.
The RICO statute, enacted in 1970 to dismantle organized crime networks, allows prosecutors to target groups engaged in a “pattern of racketeering activity.” Some Republican lawmakers want to expand its reach to include rioting. A bill led by Senator Ted Cruz, called the STOP FUNDERS Act, would allow prosecutors to seize the assets of individuals or organizations found financing demonstrations that turn violent.
“Significant money is spreading dissension and violence,” Cruz said at a Senate hearing, arguing that stronger legal tools are needed to deter unrest. The Heritage Foundation, an influential conservative think tank, has endorsed the measure, calling it a necessary deterrent against politically motivated violence.
Read Also: Trump Seeks $15B From New York Times In Defamation Suit
Civil liberties groups have raised alarms, warning that the proposal could blur the line between lawful protest and criminal conspiracy. “Branding protest as criminal activity threatens to intimidate people from engaging in peaceful, lawful advocacy,” said Cole Leiter of Americans Against Government Censorship, which is lobbying to block the bill.
Legal scholars say bringing RICO cases against protest groups would be challenging. Prosecutors must prove an enterprise, a pattern of criminal acts, and intent. “To prove RICO, you have to prove 20 things,” said Jeffrey Grell, a RICO law expert, noting that such cases are expensive and can bankrupt targets even if they fail in court.
Trump has faced RICO charges himself – at the state level in Georgia – over efforts to overturn the 2020 election. That case is now in limbo after a court disqualified the local district attorney.
The latest push reflects rising tensions between conservatives and liberal advocacy networks after Kirk’s killing, which authorities have not linked to any political organization. Soros’ Open Society Foundations said in a statement: “Our work is entirely peaceful and lawful. It is disgraceful to use this tragedy to divide Americans and attack the First Amendment.”
Africa Daily News, New York
