Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the Trump administration will prosecute anti-ICE rioters and looters in Los Angeles under the federal Hobbs Act, a powerful anti-extortion law that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The decision comes after days of widespread lawlessness in the city, including the looting of major retailers like Apple and CVS.
Bondi made it clear: if California Governor Gavin Newsom won’t act to restore order, the federal government will. “We’re using the Hobbs Act. If you loot a store, we are going to charge you with robbery… and you’re looking at a maximum of 20 years in prison,” Bondi said.
The Hobbs Act prohibits robbery or extortion that affects interstate commerce in any way. It also covers conspiracies to commit such crimes. By invoking this law, the Department of Justice aims to bypass California’s soft-on-crime policies and ensure federal accountability for the violence and destruction.
Bondi criticized Newsom for refusing to declare an economic disaster, a move that would have unlocked federal aid for the small businesses devastated by the riots. “Had they done that, Kelly Loeffler and the Small Business Association could have come in and helped,” Bondi said.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler had previously called on Newsom to request the declaration, urging him to prioritize business recovery over politics. “The migrant mob has looted stores, destroyed storefronts, and committed criminal acts… federal partners are ready to help American citizens rebuild,” she stated.
As local leadership fails to act, the Trump administration is stepping in with legal and financial tools to restore order and support small business owners under siege.
