Republicans Introduce Bill to Hold Rioters Accountable By Withholding Funds to Rogue Localities

US House Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Az.) issued a press release today about a bill that she co-authored with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Oh.) and has been signed on by 15 other members of the Legislature. The bill is called the the Holding Rioters Accountable Act of 2020.

According to the release, the goal is to hold rioters responsible for destruction across our nation accountable for their actions and ensure local officials do not turn a blind eye to the chaos in cities and states.

Lesko tweeted out about it, saying she is “Proud to introduce the Holding Rioters Accountable Act with Jim Jordan. There is no place for lawlessness in our country. Cities & states that choose to allow rioting & do not uphold our laws should not be rewarded with hard-earned taxpayer-funded grants.”

Proud to introduce the Holding Rioters Accountable Act with @Jim_Jordan. There is no place for lawlessness in our country. Cities & states that choose to allow rioting & do not uphold our laws should not be rewarded with hard-earned taxpayer-funded grants. https://t.co/6FtxxFRwEn

— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) September 18, 2020

By not get rewarded, Lesko means that the bill grants the attorney general the authority to withhold up to 10 percent of Department of Justice (DOJ) grants from cities and states where prosecutors are failing to prosecute crimes arising from riots and other violent protests.

Federal departments like the Department of Justice have grant programs aimed at hiring more police, equipping them and constructing new police facilities.

In June, AG Bill Barr announced the awarding of nearly $400 million for fiscal year 2020 under the program, intended to pay for the hiring of 2,732 police officers in 596 law enforcement agencies and some of that money will also go to communities to hire school resource officers.

Lesko said in the press release, “We have laws in our country for a reason and if cities and states choose not to uphold them, they should not be rewarded with money from federal grant. I hope this bill will incentivize cities and states to follow the law and hold rioters accountable. There is no place in our nation for this lawlessness.”

“Chaos and violence have no place in American cities. It’s time for Democrats to denounce violent left-wing extremism, reject efforts to defund the police, and hold anarchists and criminals accountable for their lawlessness,” added Jordan.

One left-wing Twitter user responded to Lesko and tagged Lesko’s opponent in the upcoming election, Democrat Michael Muscato, and said, “These laws already exist in each state.”

These laws already exist in each state…

Stop dog whistling to your base! @michael_muscato is the only option to make actual real change n Washington DC

— ????????????????????Trevor Nelson ????✊????✊????✊????✊???? (@CTrevorNelson) September 18, 2020

Muscato jumped in with a response, saying “Imagine serving a decade in the state legislature and not knowing that. Imagine knowing it and still playing this game.”

One response to Muscato read, “You obviously can not read yourself. It states holding back federal grant monies for districts who do not enforce the laws already written….”

You obviously can not read yourself. It states holding back federal grant monies for districts who do not enforce the laws already written….

— truth_facts_matter (@ghostdiver_) September 18, 2020

Muscato also replied directly to Lesko’s tweet by attempting to downplay the destruction, saying “Imagine if our government bodies were held accountable for the actions of a few idiots and law breakers….”

One reply to Muscato asked, “Do you mean like the judiciary branch for not prosecuting?” Another said, “If that were true there wouldn’t be a single Democratic left in Washington. Two tier justice system. One for the Dems and one for flea bottoms.”

Do you mean like the judiciary branch for not prosecuting?

— StanF'nTastic (@StanFntastic) September 18, 2020

If that were true there wouldn’t be a single Democratic left in Washington. Two tier justice system. One for the Dems and one for flea bottoms.

— Peter????????☠️⚓️???? (@britbuldogg) September 18, 2020