In a significant escalation of the Trump administration's crackdown on leftwing activism, US Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued a directive ordering federal law enforcement to investigate antifascist groups, with a specific focus on uncovering potential tax crimes.
Memo Details Broad Crackdown on 'Domestic Terror'
The exclusive memo, obtained by the Guardian and sent on Thursday, was distributed to all law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors. It instructs them to implement President Trump's September executive order, which controversially designated the loose network of activists known as Antifa as a domestic terrorism organisation.
Bondi's document describes these so-called domestic terrorists as using violence to advance agendas including opposition to immigration enforcement, anti-capitalism, and support for overthrowing the US government. Legal experts have repeatedly stated that the President lacks the authority to unilaterally declare a domestic group a terrorist organisation.
Within 14 days, all agencies are ordered to review their files for any intelligence related to Antifa and deliver it to the FBI. The Bureau is also tasked with compiling a list of domestic terror groups and disseminating intelligence.
Tax-Exempt Status in the Crosshairs
A key revelation in the memo is the explicit instruction to pursue leftwing groups for financial violations. Bondi directs officials to consider any applicable tax crimes in cases involving extremist groups suspected of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
This move signals a continued effort by the administration to revoke the tax-exempt status of organisations it deems hostile, a tactic that could severely cripple their funding and philanthropic operations. The memo references a prior effort to investigate the liberal Open Society Foundations following a specific incident.
Furthermore, Bondi instructed the Justice Department to prioritise grant funding for states that have established programmes focused on combating domestic terrorism.
Context of Broader Legal and Political Actions
This directive is not an isolated action. In October, the administration filed rare terrorism charges against activists arrested at a Texas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility protest, alleging they were part of a North Texas Antifa cell. Those charged and their associates deny any intent for violence or formal affiliation with Antifa.
The domestic push is mirrored by foreign policy. Last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated four European anti-fascist groups as foreign terrorist organisations, a move widely seen as bolstering the administration's narrative against similar movements within the United States.
This coordinated strategy, encompassing legal, financial, and intelligence avenues, represents a concerted effort to target and disrupt leftwing activist networks under the banner of combating domestic extremism.
