A new bipartisan bill has been introduced that is making waves across Washington, D.C. The bill, called the Deterring External Threats and Ensuring Robust Responses to Egregious and Nefarious Criminal Endeavors Act (DETERRENCE), aims to address the growing concern over foreign-directed violence on American soil. The bill comes in the wake of a series of alarming alleged assassination plots, including one targeting President-elect Donald Trump, which allegedly involved the Iranian government. Texas Representative Nathaniel Moran and Missouri Representative Ann Wagner are the driving forces behind this critical legislation, hoping to send a loud and clear message that the U.S. will not tolerate foreign governments or criminal organizations engaging in violence against Americans.
The DETERRENCE Act is all about sending a powerful deterrent message. It specifically targets individuals who commit heinous crimes like murder for hire, kidnapping, and violent attacks against U.S. citizens under the direction or coordination of foreign governments. This includes high-profile crimes such as the murder of federal officers, including military personnel, and violent actions against U.S. officials, including the President and Vice President. Given recent threats from Iranian assassination agents, the bill is particularly focused on defending U.S. citizens from foreign regimes that may seek to harm them.
Why the DETERRENCE Act Matters Now
What makes the DETERRENCE Act especially urgent is the series of alleged assassination plots against President-elect Trump and other U.S. citizens, reportedly orchestrated by Iran. According to Moran’s statement, these plots underscore the urgent need for robust deterrents against foreign governments attempting to harm Americans. The bill is being introduced in response to a reported murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), targeting not just Trump but also other U.S. and Israeli citizens on American soil. It was on November 8 that the Department of Justice revealed it had uncovered the plot, and charges were subsequently filed against a 51-year-old Iranian man, Farhad Shakeri, who allegedly attempted to carry out the mission. Notably, Shakeri’s plan wasn't limited to Trump, but also included other targets like American and Israeli nationals living in the U.S.
The DETERRENCE Act seeks to hold perpetrators of such actions accountable by raising the stakes. Individuals found guilty of crimes committed at the behest of a foreign government could face far harsher penalties, including longer prison sentences and higher fines. This is the kind of response that the lawmakers hope will send a decisive message to foreign adversaries: don’t mess with Americans.
The Legal Implications of Foreign Directed Violence
Under the current system, the penalties for certain criminal acts like murder or kidnapping are already severe. However, when these crimes are carried out under the coordination of foreign governments—especially hostile regimes like Iran—the DETERRENCE Act proposes an enhanced legal framework. The bill would raise criminal sentences for crimes like murder-for-hire, the murder of federal employees, and kidnapping when carried out as part of a foreign-directed plot. In cases where these criminal acts target high-ranking U.S. officials, the penalties would be particularly steep.
This legislation isn’t just about punishing wrongdoers; it's also about empowering U.S. law enforcement agencies to act decisively when foreign governments are found to be behind domestic threats. By making it clear that crimes committed on behalf of foreign powers will be met with swift and severe consequences, the DETERRENCE Act provides U.S. authorities with additional leverage when confronting international threats on American soil.
The Role of Key Lawmakers in Introducing the Bill
Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, one of the key sponsors of the bill, voiced her support for the DETERRENCE Act with a firm and fiery message. In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), she made it clear that the Iranian regime has gone too far by allegedly plotting to kill a U.S. president. "After years of appeasement, Iran knows no bounds," she said. "They even tried to assassinate President Trump." Ernst’s sentiment echoes the frustration many in Washington feel about Iran’s continued efforts to undermine U.S. safety and security. As a result, the bill has strong backing from across the political spectrum, underscoring its bipartisan nature.
New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan, another co-sponsor of the bill, also chimed in on the outrage sparked by these alleged assassination attempts. Speaking about the need for harsher penalties, she said that when criminal organizations in the U.S. work with foreign governments to commit violent acts, the punishment should be far more severe. “We’re sending a message to the world that this behavior will not be tolerated,” she stated in a video posted on X.
A Unified Message Across Party Lines
One of the most striking aspects of the DETERRENCE Act is its bipartisan support. While the bill has received vocal backing from Republican lawmakers like Senator Ernst, it has also garnered significant endorsements from Democrats like Senator Hassan and Representatives like Jared Moskowitz and Brad Schneider. This bipartisan coalition reflects a shared concern about foreign threats targeting American citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
Moskowitz, a representative from Florida, was particularly vocal about the bill’s importance. As a member of the bipartisan task force investigating the Iranian assassination attempts, he expressed his disgust over the Iranian regime’s attempts to harm U.S. citizens, including the President-elect. "We need to send a message that any person who works with a foreign government, especially a state sponsor of terrorism like Iran, will face severe consequences for harming Americans,” Moskowitz said in his statement.
Likewise, Illinois Representative Brad Schneider reinforced the bill’s necessity by noting how Iran has demonstrated an alarming willingness to target U.S. officials with violence. Schneider emphasized the importance of holding foreign governments accountable for their actions on U.S. soil, stating, "We must take decisive action to protect our citizens and hold foreign adversaries accountable."
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the DETERRENCE Act?
While the DETERRENCE Act was just introduced on November 22, 2024, it’s already generating strong buzz on Capitol Hill. The bill has a long road ahead before it can become law, and there are still questions about when it will be voted on and how quickly it will be implemented. But one thing is clear: its introduction sends a strong signal to foreign governments that the U.S. is not backing down when it comes to protecting its citizens from external threats.
The bipartisan support for this bill shows that there’s a broad consensus in Congress on the need to take tougher action against foreign-directed violence. Whether this bill will successfully deter future assassination attempts or violent plots remains to be seen, but it is a step toward strengthening national security and ensuring that the United States can effectively respond to foreign threats.
As lawmakers continue to rally behind the DETERRENCE Act, it will be interesting to see how it evolves in the coming months. For now, though, this bill stands as a powerful declaration of the U.S.’s commitment to protecting its citizens and sending a clear message to adversaries around the world: any threat to America will be met with swift and unwavering justice.
Login