Calls Mount for FBI Investigation into Hasan Piker Over Allegations of Incitement to Violence

Syd Steyerhart, a prominent social media user, has publicly called for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to arrest streamer Hasan Piker, citing "sufficient video evidence to charge him with criminal conspiracy and incitement to violence." The demand, made in a recent tweet, also suggested that "taking down Antifa is an important action, but the first item on the FBI's docket Monday morning should be the arrest of Hasan Piker.

Piker, a popular left-leaning political commentator and Twitch streamer known as "HasanAbi," has faced increasing scrutiny and accusations of inciting violence through his online remarks. Concerns have escalated following various controversial statements made on his platform. Tech mogul Elon Musk notably accused Piker of "incitement to murder" after clips of Piker's inflammatory statements circulated, supporting calls for Twitch to ban him indefinitely.

Congressman Ritchie Torres also weighed in, writing to executives at Twitch and Amazon, stating, "Piker has even gone as far as to incite violence, telling his followers to 'kill' and 'murder' people 'in the streets' and 'let the streets soak in their red-capitalist blood.'" Torres emphasized that such incitement "merits scrutiny from federal law enforcement." One widely circulated clip from 2025 showed Piker stating, "If you cared about Medicaid fraud, you would kill Rick Scott," leading to a temporary ban from Twitch.

While no official FBI charges or confirmed investigations into Piker for criminal conspiracy or incitement to violence have been publicly announced, the calls for such action highlight a growing debate surrounding the boundaries of free speech and the potential for online rhetoric to translate into real-world harm. Piker has often defended his statements as political commentary, while critics argue they cross the line into dangerous incitement, particularly given his large online following. The ongoing controversy underscores the challenges social media platforms face in moderating content and the increasing pressure on law enforcement to address alleged incitement originating from online personalities.