Moran introduces bill to combat foreign threats

TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, who serves much of northeast Texas, introduced the DETERRENCE Act, a bill that could protect Americans from violence by foreign powers. As foreign adversaries like Iran grow brazen, Moran said the U.S. must send a clear message, that “any attempt to harm Americans will be met with swift and decisive punishment.”

“Recent assassination attempts and threats against President Trump and other U.S. citizens by Iran underscore the urgent need for strong and practical deterrence against all foreign regimes who seek to harm Americans on our soil,” Moran said.

The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an alleged Iranian plot to kill President-elect Donald Trump earlier this month. In those documents, Farhad Shakeri allegedly told FBI agents he was tasked to assassinate Trump by Iranian officials in September, and is now charged with murder-for hire.

The DETERRENCE Act, also known as Deterring External Threats and Ensuring Robust Responses to Egregious and Nefarious Criminal Endeavors Act, would allow for an increased criminal sentences for individuals who commit crimes at the direction of, or in coordination with, a foreign government.

• Moran’s legislation, met with bipartisan bicameral support, would protect Americans by permitting enhanced criminal sentences for those who commit crimes at the direction of a foreign government.
• Murder-for-hire sentences could increase by 10 years if death or injury results, with a 5-year increase for attempted murder-for-hire.
• Murder of federal officers and employees, including military, sentences could increase by 10 years.
• Kidnapping sentences could increase by 10 years, with a 5-year increase for attempted kidnapping.
• Stalking sentences could be increased by 2.5 years or 5 years if injury results or a deadly weapon is used and 10 years if death results.
• Threats of violence against current and former U.S. officials and their families sentences could increase by 10 years for use of a dangerous weapon during threat.
• Violent crimes against current and former U.S. officials and their families sentences could increase by 10 years for murder, assault with injury, or use of a dangerous weapon; sentences could increase by 5 years for assault without injury.
• Violent crimes against the president, vice president, president-elect, or vice-president elect sentences could be increased by 10 years.

Moran was joined by Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Chair of House of Foreign Affairs Committee and a companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH).