Dan Coats: “in 1970, Congress passed provisions known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, or RICO, as part of…”

“in 1970, Congress passed provisions known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, or RICO, as part of the larger Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. The bill was designed to help law enforcement officials better address the plague of organized crime, and has been a valuable tool in this effort. During drafting of this legislation, concerns were raised by several members of this body, including my colleague from Massachusetts, Senator Kennedy, that the bill was written so broadly that it might be used against organized civil disobedience, including anti-war demonstrators. This was at the height of the Vietnam War, and anti-war demonstrations were taking place across the country. Senator Kennedy, along with Senator Hart of Michigan, submitted their views as part of the Senate Judiciary Committee Report on the Organized Crime Control Act of 1969. I think their words deserve our attention today. They recognized that, and I quote: ``To combat organized crime, as distinguished from other forms of criminal activity, requires procedures specifically designed for that purpose.'' They continued, ``The reach of this bill goes beyond organized criminal activity. Most of its features propose substantial changes in the general body of criminal procedures.…”