Ernst, Hassan Strengthen Penalties for Crimes in U.S. Directed by Foreign Adversaries

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced theDeterring External Threats and Ensuring Robust Responses to Egregious and Nefarious Criminal Endeavors Act (DETERRENCE) Actto strengthen criminal penalties for individuals who commit, or attempt to commit, violent crimes in the United States on behalf of foreign adversaries.
Last month, two eastern European organized crime leaders wereconvictedof targeting an American journalist in a murder-for-hire scheme on behalf of the Iranian government.
“We cannot allow foreign adversaries, like Iran, to fund crimes against Americans on our own soil,”said Ernst.“Criminals are on notice, anyone helping to carry out Tehran’s malign ‘death to America’ will face severe consequences. TheDETERRENCE Actis another peace through strength action that will make bad actors think twice before targeting our citizens.”
“Foreign adversaries are working with gangs and criminals in the United States to try to kill people on our soil, which is a national security risk,”said Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will crack down on criminals who commit violence on behalf of a foreign government. I urge my colleagues in Congress to quickly take up and pass this legislation and send a clear message to our foreign adversaries that they will face particularly serious consequences if they expand their criminal activity to American soil.”
“The United States is the home of liberty and freedom of expression. Everyone, from the President to every-day citizens, are threatened when rogue regimes like Iran attempt to infiltrate our borders and commit crimes against us,”said Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director of the Vandenberg Coalition.“Enforcing higher punishments for those doing these rogue regime’s bidding is an important step in the right direction to deter would-be criminals. States like Iran need to get the message that America is back, and their rules don’t work in our country.”
TheDETERRENCE Actincreases criminal penalties for the following federal crimes when the crimes are committed under U.S. jurisdiction on behalf of foreign governments, including:

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