Hawley Spells Out What Should Happen To People Who Fund Riots

Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said Tuesday on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime that he believes those who fund riots that lead to violence should be held legally responsible.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing the same day, FBI Director Kash Patel discussed how the agency is following “the money” regarding crimes like “terrorism or attacks based on ideology or attacks on institutions of faith or people of faith.” Riots such as those in Los Angeles have been linked to outside funders. Fox’s Jesse Watters asked Hawley if lawmakers could hold people who fund such activities — that result in violence —  “liable.” (RELATED: Los Angeles ICE Riots Cost City $20 Million — And Counting)

“Well listen, you certainly cannot fund crimes knowingly, and here’s the thing. When you look at the planned nature of so many of these rallies, so many of these riots, so many of these so-called uprisings, the funders have got to know what it is they’re funding,” Hawley said. “These are smart people. It’s one of the reasons that they’ve concealed this money in their network for so long. They know what they’re funding, so I think the answer is yes.”

WATCH:

“If you’re out there funding rioting that harms people, that assaults cops, that burns down buildings, yeah, that’s a crime. You ought to be held responsible for that. You ought to answer for that in court. That’s one of the reasons why [FBI Director] Kash Patel today, seeing as he’s going after the money, such a big deal.”

In June, Patel announced that the agency would look into who funded the protests against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that occurred in Los Angeles.

Protests and riots broke out in the city due to the Trump administration cracking down on illegal immigration. Rioters vandalized federal buildings, set fire to Waymo cars, threw projectiles at federal vehicles and blocked police cars on freeways in an attempt to destroy them.

Patel’s announcement came after the Party for Socialism and Liberation — a socialist group connected to pro-Chinese Communist Party millionaire Neville Roy Singham — was linked to the riots. A New York Post report also revealed state financial documents showing a progressive activist group tied to the protests had received both California and federal government grants.

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