Following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Senate Republican Senator Eric Schmitt has announced plans to hold a hearing titled ‘Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order.’ This hearing aims to examine the origins of political violence and extremism, which Schmitt asserts predominantly stems from the Democratic side of the political spectrum.
Schmitt, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, will host the hearing on October 28th to assess the relationship between the First Amendment and political violence, particularly in the wake of Kirk’s tragic assassination. The hearing comes in response to the nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests, which brought renewed attention to discussions about left-wing political violence.
Kirk’s assassination prompted a brief moment of unity on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle calling for a reduction in political rhetoric. However, as the government shutdown continues, tensions among lawmakers have resurfaced, leading to renewed political conflict. The recent ‘No Kings’ rallies have further fueled these discussions, especially following a White House roundtable where President Donald Trump hosted independent journalists to discuss their experiences covering Antifa, a radical left-wing group recently labeled a domestic terrorist organization by the administration.
Michael Knowles, a confirmed witness for the hearing and a friend of Kirk’s, has been linked to incidents of protest violence. At a speaking event at the University of Pittsburgh in 202, protesters threw smoke bombs and fireworks, injuring a police officer. Knowles has publicly acknowledged that the left commits more violence, stating it as a culmination of years of ideological assaults on opponents. He praised Schmitt’s initiative, calling the hearing an opportunity to discuss how Congress can reassert order and hold to account left-wing ideologues undermining the public square.
Schmitt emphasized that the rise in left-wing violence is ‘deeply disturbing and antithetical to American values,’ as it threatens constitutional rights and the free marketplace of ideas. He criticized the political establishment for denying the reality of left-wing violence, urging a transparent investigation to provide the American people with the answers they need about the realities of political violence from the left.
The hearing is expected to bring further scrutiny to the issue, highlighting the ongoing debates and tensions within American politics over the nature of political dissent and the boundaries of free expression.