Bondi lays out options for prosecuting antifa, left-leaning groups after Trump's call

Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum Thursday to federal prosecutors nationwide, outlining procedures for pursuing legal action against organizations accused of having ties to antifa. The guidance could serve as the foundation for potential charges against several left-leaning advocacy groups and nonprofits that the Trump administration has alleged, without presenting evidence, are linked to extremist activities.

Although the memo is framed as a general directive on addressing domestic terrorism and political violence, it specifically references antifa and highlights its opposition to policies endorsed by the Trump administration.

Antifa, short for anti-fascism, is widely considered by experts to be an ideology rather than a formal organization. Critics have questioned President Trumps September designation of antifa as a domestic terror group, noting that such a classification is generally applied to groups with established structures and financial networks.

President Trump has instructed federal authorities to implement a focused plan targeting all responsible actorsincluding organizers and financiersof domestic terrorism activities, Bondi wrote in the memo obtained by The Hill.

Historically, the Justice Department and FBI have monitored extremist movements based on motivation rather than political alignment, categorizing groups as anti-government, religious extremists, or otherwise radicalized. Bondis memo marks a departure by singling out one ideological stance.

Violence claimed to oppose fascism has become a hallmark of recent domestic terrorism, Bondi stated. These extremists use violence or threats to advance political and social agendas, including opposition to immigration enforcement, promotion of unrestricted migration, advocacy for radical gender ideologies, anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, anti-Christian sentiment, efforts to overthrow the government, rejection of traditional family and religious values, and the use of violence to influence policy outcomes, including political assassinations.

The memo also instructs the FBI to circulate an intelligence bulletin on antifa and affiliated anarchist extremist groups.

Bondi suggested several legal avenues for prosecution, including conspiracy charges, mail and wire fraud, and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statutes.

The memorandum references the assassination of Charlie Kirk as a motivating factor for the Trump administrations intensified scrutiny of left-leaning organizations.

White House officials expressed a firm stance on these efforts. With God as my witness, we will utilize every resource within the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and the broader government to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and neutralize these networks to protect the American people, said Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, during a discussion with Vice President Vance. We intend to pursue NGOs that incite, facilitate, or engage in violent activity, Vance added.

Author: Maya Henderson