To amend title 18, United States Code, to include rioting in the definition of racketeering activity.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4620
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-22: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T08:06:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to expand the federal definition of racketeering activity under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act by including rioting as a qualifying offense. RICO is a law that targets organized criminal activity by allowing prosecutors to charge groups or individuals with a pattern of illegal acts.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 1961(1) of Title 18, United States Code, which lists offenses that qualify as "racketeering activity."
- Specifically inserts a reference to "section 2101 (relating to riots)" into the list of qualifying offenses, placing it before references to other crimes like those involving child exploitation (sections 2251 and beyond).
- Section 2101 of Title 18 is the federal anti-riot statute, which prohibits inciting, organizing, or participating in riots that interfere with interstate commerce or federal rights.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, rioting under Section 2101 was a standalone federal offense but not classified as racketeering activity under RICO.
- This change integrates rioting into RICO's framework, allowing it to serve as a "predicate act" (a base crime) for RICO prosecutions. This means a series of riot-related incidents could form the basis for broader charges against organizations or conspiracies, potentially leading to harsher penalties like asset forfeiture or extended prison terms.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Enhances tools for the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement to pursue organized rioting, such as those involving gangs or activist groups, by enabling RICO investigations and civil lawsuits.
- On citizens: Could increase federal scrutiny and penalties for individuals involved in riots, distinguishing between peaceful protests and violent ones. It may deter participation in potentially unlawful assemblies but raise concerns about overreach in monitoring public demonstrations.
- On international relations: Minimal direct impact, as the law focuses on domestic federal offenses; however, it could indirectly affect U.S. relations with foreign entities if applied to international protest movements or cross-border activities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Law enforcement and prosecutors: Gain expanded authority to dismantle organized rioting networks.
- Individuals and groups involved in protests or civil unrest: Face heightened risk of federal charges, particularly if activities escalate to riots.
- Civil liberties organizations: Likely to monitor or challenge applications of the law to ensure it does not infringe on First Amendment rights to assembly and speech.
- State and local governments: May see shifts in how federal resources support riot control, potentially overlapping with state-level policing.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Broadens RICO's scope, a powerful tool originally designed for mafia-like enterprises, to civil disorders; this could lead to more complex cases requiring proof of a "pattern" of rioting (at least two acts within 10 years).
- Constitutional: Potential tensions with the First Amendment, as courts may need to differentiate protected speech/protests from prosecutable rioting to avoid chilling free expression.
- Political: Introduced in response to recent unrest (e.g., post-2020 protests), it reflects a push for stronger federal responses to domestic disorder, but could spark debates on partisanship in law enforcement. No immediate constitutional challenges are outlined in the bill itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]
Cosponsors (74)
Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23], Rep. Jack, Brian [R-GA-3], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5], Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6], Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5], Rep. Knott, Brad [R-NC-13], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27], Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6] and 24 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-22: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-07-22: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-22: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend title 18, United States Code, to include rioting in the definition of racketeering activity. — issued 2025-07-22 — PDF (1 pages)