The violent rioters who destroyed property and put lives in danger during the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles are being brought to justice, with Los Angeles officials confirming that charges are being filed against multiple alleged rioters and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) launching an investigation into possible financial backers behind the protests.
For context, a series of violent, chaotic protests broke out in Los Angeles, California, starting on June 6, that were a reaction to a crackdown on illegal immigration in the city. In the wake of the riots, LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman, along with U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli and other high-ranking officials, confirmed in a press conference on June 16, 2025, that multiple state and federal charges had been filed against alleged participants in the riots.
During the press conference, Hochman said that those involved in the riots “wanted to commit crimes,” adding that the convicted individuals viewed te protest “as a cover, an opportunity to go ahead and ply their illegal trade and commit a whole variety of crimes that, in many ways, has done a huge disservice to the legitimate protesters out there.”
Furthermore, Hochman explained that his office was in the process of filing 30 charges, adding that U.S. Attorney Essayli “has an additional 20 charges.” Hochman continued, “We will try to find the appropriate charge for the crime committed.” The attorney general went on to say, “There is a clear and distinct line between lawful expression and unlawful conduct. Our job as prosecutors is to ensure those who engage in violence and destruction are held accountable for their actions.”
Importantly, Hochman argued that the media coverage of the protests made the chaos seem worse than it was, saying, “The media would like to focus, quite candidly, on the fireworks being exploded, on the motorcycles running into law enforcement, on the incredible graffiti that has, in many ways, destroyed, or certainly desecrated our historic buildings.”
Clarifying his point, Hochman said that the charges filed against “these few numbers of people who want to make it seem like Los Angeles is under siege” should not be taken as representative of all individuals involved in the protest, adding, “It is not [under siege].” Hochman explained, “99.9% or 99% of people that protested did so legitimately and did so peacefully.”
In addition, according to coverage from Fox News, the IRS is actively investigating numerous nonprofit organizations that allegedly have ties to the protests. U.S. Attorney Essayli commented on the agency’s investigation, saying, “The IRS [specializes] in tracing the money and finding out where it’s coming from [and] where it’s going.”
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Furthermore, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on June 16, 2025, that his agency intends to investigate “any and all” possible sources of funding for the riots. Patel made this statement to Epoch Times journalist Eva Fu, who speculated that organizations funded by “pro-Beijing tech tycoon” Neville Singham could be behind the riots.
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