November 5, 2025
Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To make ideologically motivated crimes eligible for the death penalty.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Ideologically Motivated Violence Accountability Act
.
Sec. 2. Death penalty for ideologically motivated crimes
(a) Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
The intentional targeting of individuals based on their ideological, religious or political beliefs, or affiliations poses a great threat to democratic society.
(2)
Such attacks function not only as personal crimes but as coercive acts of ideological intimidation, deterring free political and religious expression and endangering communities exercising constitutional rights.
(3)
Violence against individuals because of their political or religious beliefs, whether committed to silence dissent, to make a political statement, or to punish perceived opponents, undermines public safety, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
(4)
The Government has a compelling interest in ensuring that individuals are not silenced or targeted because of their lawful political or religious beliefs.
(b) Death penalty
(1) In general
Section 3592(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
(17) Ideological motive
The defendant committed the offense with the intent to—
(A)
target the victim wholly or in part because of the victim’s actual or perceived political or religious beliefs, affiliation, expression, or activity; or
(B)
promote, retaliate against, influence, protest, or otherwise make a public statement concerning any political or religious belief, practice, institution, group, ideology, event, or public figure.
(2) Sentencing guidelines
The United States Sentencing Commission shall amend the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual to conform with the amendment made in paragraph (1), pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of title 28, United States Code.