Senator Josh Hawley Investigates LA Riot Funders, Demands Financial Records from Activist Groups

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, has initiated a formal investigation into organizations allegedly funding and supporting violent unrest in Los Angeles. The probe targets the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), and Unión del Barrio, all of which have been accused of providing logistical and financial support to individuals involved in recent riots.

Hawley sent letters to the executive directors of these groups, demanding the preservation and submission of financial records, donor lists, internal communications (including emails, texts, and chat logs), travel and lodging records, and media and public relations strategies. The senator asserts that “credible reporting” indicates these organizations have played a role in bankrolling and organizing the disturbances, which he describes as “not spontaneous” but rather coordinated and funded.

“Let me be clear: bankrolling civil unrest is not protected speech. It is aiding and abetting criminal conduct,” Hawley wrote in his correspondence. He warned that failure to comply with the document requests could result in subpoenas and public hearings.

The investigation comes as Los Angeles has experienced a wave of protests and riots, some of which escalated into violent confrontations with law enforcement, arson, and vandalism. While many demonstrators have expressed dissent non-violently, Hawley’s probe focuses on the alleged financial and organizational infrastructure behind the more destructive actions. The senator has also suggested that the unrest is spreading to other cities, including Chicago and St. Louis, and that a broader network may be at work.

CHIRLA, PSL, and Unión del Barrio have not yet publicly responded to the requests for comment or documentation. The investigation is ongoing, with further updates expected as the Senate subcommittee reviews the evidence and considers next steps.