ANTIFAArgument: Deal with Antifa Without Designating Them
In an Editorial, the editors of the conservative National Review argue that “We’ve seen before what happens when there is an over-insistence by political leaders on supposed domestic political threats —you get cock-up investigations and confusing plots where it is unclear whether FBI agents and informers are investigating actual domestic terrorists, or merely seducing and entrapping people into plans mostly hatched by the agents and informers.”
Our domestic laws provide plenty of tools by which groups can be investigated and prosecuted for promoting any criminal activity, whether carjacking or violently intimidating people who are marching peacefully. We already criminalize contributing money to finance acts of domestic terrorism. Arguing about designation does almost nothing — what matters is investigating the conduct of people and charging them with relevant crimes. .
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We’ve seen before what happens when there is an over-insistence by political leaders on supposed domestic political threats — you get cock-up investigations and confusing plots where it is unclear whether FBI agents and informers are investigating actual domestic terrorists, or merely seducing and entrapping people into plans mostly hatched by the agents and informers. Meanwhile, we should not be ceding more power to investigators to watch Americans without getting a warrant.
It would be better simply to act within the guidelines of our already ample federal law codes. Surveillance of American citizens for terror plots requires the FBI to show that they are being directed by foreigners and that they appear to be violating criminal statutes. Otherwise, the tools are already in the hands of law enforcement to treat violent members of Antifa, and their willing co-conspirators, with the seriousness they deserve.
