Show-Me State Times

During a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on politically motivated violence, Chairman Eric Schmitt (R-MO) addressed what he described as a significant rise in attacks driven by political motives. The hearing, titled "Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order," was held in the wake of several high-profile incidents, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk and two attempts on President Trump's life.

In his opening remarks, Senator Schmitt 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.”

He continued: “None of this is random. It is organized, coordinated political terror. 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.”

Schmitt argued that these acts stem from extremist beliefs that cannot succeed through democratic means or public debate: “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.”

He described how such ideologies justify extreme actions against perceived opponents: “To these people and this movement, the only acceptable goal is the destruction of the system and its leaders. The central idea of every revolutionary project is that utopia must be achieved through any means necessary.”

Referencing Charlie Kirk’s assassination directly, Schmitt said: “When Charlie Kirk was murdered, one of his killer’s bullets was engraved with the message ‘Hey fascist, catch.’ But 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, over and over again, 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."

Schmitt concluded with a warning about future consequences if action is not taken: “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 regarding protecting free expression from political violence; Chad Wolf about alleged coordinated Antifa activities; and Kyle Shideler about designating Antifa as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization.'

Recently in October 2025 Senator Schmitt sent letters to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging an official designation for Antifa as a foreign terrorist group and to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting an investigation into left-wing political violence—following earlier commitments by AG Bondi during oversight hearings.

In September 2025 he also condemned political violence during testimony involving FBI Director Kash Patel.