Sen. Josh Hawley told Fox News’ Jesse Watters on Tuesday that individuals bankrolling violent riots should face criminal accountability.
Appearing Watters’ “Primetime” after a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, the Missouri Republican said financial backers of organized unrest are fully aware of what they’re supporting.
Earlier in the day, FBI Director Kash Patel testified that his agency is “following the money” behind violent activity, including terrorism, ideology-driven attacks, and assaults on houses of worship.
Watters pressed Hawley on whether lawmakers could hold such funders “liable” if their dollars contributed to rioting that resulted in violence.
🚨NEW: Senator Josh Hawley say’s Biden’s FBI was “INTIMIDATING” Charlie Kirk 🚨@HawleyMO: “Charlie told me a couple years ago, “I think we’re being targeted. I think Turning Point USA is being targeted. Can you help us?”
“Now we know Joe Biden once again weaponized the FBI to… pic.twitter.com/MCL09Bw1Cf
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) September 17, 2025
Hawley insisted that financial backers “cannot fund crimes knowingly,” and that “rallies” were well organized ahead of time.
“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.”
The senator added that financial support for destructive demonstrations cannot be brushed aside.
“If you’re out there funding rioting that harms people, that assaults cops, that burns down buildings, yeah, that’s a crime,” he insisted.
“You ought to be held responsible for that. You ought to answer for that in court. That’s one of the reasons why Kash Patel today, seeing as he’s going after the money, such a big deal.”
Patel announced in June that the bureau would probe the money trail behind protests in Los Angeles that spiraled into violent riots.
The demonstrations began after the Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement of immigration law, which included high-profile ICE operations in the city.
What started as marches quickly devolved into criminal chaos, with rioters setting fires to Waymo vehicles, hurling projectiles at federal property, and vandalizing government buildings.
Investigators have since tied the disturbances to outside funding, including connections to the Party for Socialism and Liberation — a radical group with links to pro-Chinese Communist Party millionaire Neville Roy Singham.
While federal agencies ramp up scrutiny, Democratic leaders in libeal strongholds are taking steps in the opposite direction.
On Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed a sweeping executive order designed to strengthen protest protections.
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The directive, called the “Right to Protest” order, extends the city’s Protecting Chicago Initiative and instructs the Chicago Police Department to coordinate with activists, regardless of the interference of federal agencies.
“Chicago has long been a center of civic action, from the labor uprisings of the Haymarket era to the Civil Rights movement, and today is no different,” Johnson said in a statement.
“With this Executive Order, we affirm that Chicago will remain a place where democracy and freedom reign,” the Democrat mayor delivered dramatically.
“Today, we proclaim that all residents and visitors can peacefully assemble, petition their government, and speak freely in our city,” he declared.
“This executive action is about being proactive so that we are prepared for any possible large-scale demonstration in response to the increasingly reckless federal government.”
The move comes as the Trump administration recently announced ICE’s Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago.
While Patel has drawn praise from Republicans like Hawley, Democrats used Tuesday’s Senate hearing to take aim at his leadership.
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin criticized Patel for sowing confusion after the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University last week.
Patel initially announced on social media that a suspect had been taken into custody, only to reverse the claim hours later and admit the person was released. Durbin said the premature statement amounted to a publicity stunt.
Sen. DURBIN: Kash Patel sparked mass confusion by incorrectly claiming Charlie Kirk’s assassin was in custody. He had to walk it back. He was so anxious to take credit, he violated one of the basics of effective law enforcement. Shut up and let the professionals do their job. pic.twitter.com/nOXDvP5Hbe
— Senate Judiciary Democrats 🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryDems) September 16, 2025
“Director Patel again sparked mass confusion by incorrectly claiming on social media that the shooter was in custody, which He then had to walk back with another social media post,” Durbin said directly to Patel during the hearing.
“Mr. Patel was so anxious to take credit for funding Mr. Kirk’s assassin that he violated one of the basics of effective law enforcement at critical stages of investigation: shut up and let the professionals do their job,”
Authorities eventually arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson after a multi-day manhunt. Investigators said Robinson’s father encouraged him to surrender.
Patel, appearing later on “Fox & Friends,” defended his decision to share updates in real time. “I was being transparent with working with the public on our findings as I had them, I stated in that message that we had a subject and that we were going to interview him, and we did, and he was released,” he said.
Tensions rose further when Sen. Cory Booker confronted Patel in the same hearing, predicting President Trump would soon oust him.
The New Jersey Democrat accused Patel of gutting the FBI’s leadership and undermining the bureau’s expertise.
“Because of your failures of leadership, I don’t think you’re fit to lead the bureau. Here’s the thing, Mr. Patel, I think you’re not going to be around long. I think this might be your last full oversight hearing,” Booker said.
WOW! This was a heated exchange between Kash Patel and Sen. Booker.
Patel: It's my time not yours. You're an embarrassment to this country. You had your time. You're time is over.
Booker: You don't tell me my time is over. The people of New Jersey tell me what my time is. You… pic.twitter.com/AixGsZ0gtQ
— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) September 16, 2025
“Because as much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump and not the constitution of the United States of America, Donald Trump has shown us in his first term, and in this term, he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose.”
The tense exchange devolved into shouting, with Booker insisting, “I am not afraid of you,” as Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley banged his gavel to restore order.
Patel fired back, accusing Booker of spreading “false information” and declaring, “It’s my time.”
Asked about the official before boarding Air Force One for a trip to the United Kingdom, President Trump defended Patel and touted his administration’s record.
“Take a look at what he did with respect to this horrible person that he just got to. He did it in two days, it took other similar cases four days, five days, four years if you look at certain shooters,” Trump said.
“I have confidence in everybody in this administration. My administration — and a lot of people are saying it, it’s not just me — it’s so far the best administration ever formed.”
