PASSED THE SENATE: Senators Hassan and Ernst’s Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Criminal Penalties for Violent Crimes Directed by Foreign Adversaries

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) to increase criminal penalties for individuals who commit, or attempt to commit, violent crimes in the United States on behalf of foreign adversaries. The DETERRENCE Act would both hold offenders accountable and deter criminals, including criminal organizations, from taking money from foreign adversaries in exchange for committing crimes on American soil.

“It is unacceptable that foreign adversaries are working with criminal organizations in the United States to kill people on American soil,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will strengthen criminal penalties on gangs and criminals who engage in violent behavior on behalf of a foreign government. The Senate has sent a clear message that we will not tolerate this outrageous behavior, and I urge my colleagues in the House to quickly pass it so that it can become law.”

“The Senate has taken action to ensure any bad actor thinks twice before working with our adversaries or messing with any of our citizens. The bipartisan DETERRENCE Act will create severe consequences for anyone helping carry out Iran’s malign mission of ‘death to America’ and deter any criminal organization targeting Americans on our own soil. As Tehran ramps up their aggression, including by targeting President Trump, there must be no delay in making this critical legislation law,” said Senator Ernst.

Under the DETERRENCE Act, criminals working for foreign adversaries can be sentenced to longer prison sentences. The bill specifically increases criminal penalties for the following federal crimes when the crimes are committed under U.S. jurisdiction on behalf of foreign governments:

1. Engaging in a murder-for-hire scheme
2. Murdering or attempting to murder certain federal officials, including Presidents-elect
3. Murdering or attempting to murder certain former federal officials, or their families, because of their official actions
4. Assaulting certain former federal officials, or their families, because of their official actions
5. Kidnapping or attempted kidnapping
6. Threats of violence using a dangerous weapon against certain current and former federal officials, as well as their families, because of their official actions
7. Stalking

This legislation follows reports that foreign adversaries are increasingly turning to criminals to commit violent crimes against their critics, including those who reside in the United States. The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently charged an Iranian asset and two members of his criminal network for their alleged involvement in a plot to murder a U.S. citizen who has spoken out against the Iranian regime. DOJ also detailed how Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly tasked the same asset with creating a plan to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump. Senators Hassan, Ernst, and a bipartisan group of colleagues previously wrote to DOJ calling for more information – and discussing the need for increased criminal penalties – to address this troubling trend of foreign-directed violence.

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