Columbia News

During a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing, Chairman Eric Schmitt (R-MO) addressed the issue of politically motivated violence in the United States. The hearing, titled "Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order," was held following several high-profile incidents, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk and two attempts on President Trump’s life.

In his opening remarks, Senator Schmitt described a pattern of violence that has persisted for over a year. He stated, "For the past 15 months, political violence has been a constant fact of American life. We have seen arsons and bombings, armed ambushes and assaults, sniper attacks and mass shootings, riots and violent mobs on our city streets. We have seen assassinations. We have seen murder. We have seen death."

Schmitt argued that these acts are not random but represent "organized, coordinated political terror." He continued, "The people behind this violence are not common street criminals. They are not driven by money, or drugs, or gangland turf disputes. They are determined, militant extremists who wield violence for political ends."

He discussed motivations behind such actions: "They know that their vision could never win at the ballot box, so they have chosen terrorism instead. They know their ideas could not win in the marketplace of ideas, so they shoot up the marketplace."

Schmitt also commented on ideological factors contributing to recent events: “If you truly believe that Charlie Kirk is an existential threat to your safety — and you’ve bought into the nonsense that ‘words are violence’ — then silencing him by any means could be seen as necessary.” He questioned how individuals come to justify such acts: “Who taught him that Charlie Kirk was a fascist? Who convinced him that Charlie’s ‘hate’ made his murder a righteous act? Who told him...that people who believe what Charlie believed are threats to ‘our democracy’? He did not invent that worldview. He learned it — as did each and every one of the arsonists, assassins, and militants who came before him.”

He concluded with a warning: “We are faced with only two paths. Either we confront this political violence and end it, or it will end us.”

During the hearing, Senator Schmitt questioned Michael Knowles about protecting open debate from political violence; Chad Wolf about Antifa-related activity; and Kyle Shideler regarding designating Antifa as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization.'

Senator Schmitt has previously taken steps related to these issues. In October 2025 he sent letters urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to designate Antifa as a foreign terrorist organization and asked Attorney General Pam Bondi for an investigation into left-wing political violence.

In September 2025 he also raised concerns about political violence during an oversight hearing with FBI Director Kash Patel.