President Donald Trump has called for billionaire philanthropist George Soros and one of his sons to be prosecuted under the federal RICO statute, alleging without evidence that they have supported violent protests across the United States. In an Aug. 27 Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Soros and his “Radical Left son” should face charges for their activism, though he did not specify which son he was referring to. It is likely Alex Soros, who has long supported Democratic causes and earlier this year married Huma Abedin, a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton.
RICO, short for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, is typically used to prosecute organized crime such as fraud, kidnapping, or murder. Trump offered no explanation of how the Soroses might have violated the law. His comments align with previous campaign trail threats to pursue criminal charges against political opponents, including members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack.
The Trump administration has already launched investigations into several critics. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is probing special prosecutor Jack Smith, while the FBI recently raided the home of former national security adviser John Bolton. The Justice Department is also reportedly investigating New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a major civil fraud lawsuit against Trump.
In response, George Soros’ Open Society Foundations rejected Trump’s accusations as “outrageous and false,” insisting the organization funds peaceful advocacy and supports constitutional freedoms.
