Attorney general acknowledges secret enemies list

Robin Bloomgarden: Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed federal investigators to go after nonprofits that oppose immigration enforcement or are otherwise deemed ‘anti-American.’ 

In a Dec. 4 memo titled, ‘Implementing National Security Presidential Memorandum 7:  Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence,’ Bondi wrote: 

‘For too long, rampant criminal conduct arising to the level of domestic terrorism—e.g., organized doxing of law enforcement, mass rioting and destruction in our cities, violent efforts to shut down immigration enforcement, targeting of public officials or other political actors, etc.—has been tolerated.

‘For some culpable actors, such as certain antifa-aligned extremists, their animating principle is adherence to the types of extreme viewpoints on immigration, radical gender ideology, and anti-American sentiment with a willingness to use violence against law-abiding citizenry to serve those beliefs.

‘Federal law enforcement will prioritize this threat. Where federal crime is encountered, federal agents will act. And where domestic terrorism is encountered or suspected, law enforcement agencies shall refer such matters to the Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTFFs) for the exhaustive investigation contemplated by NSPM-7…

‘Particularly dangerous are those acts committed by violent extremist groups that threaten both citizen safety and our country’s ability to self-govern. These domestic terrorists use violence or the threat of violence to advance political and social agendas, including opposition to law and immigration enforcement, extreme views in favor of mass migration and open borders, adherence to radical gender ideology, anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, or anti-Christianity, support for the overthrow of the United States government, hostility towards traditional views on family, religion and morality, and an elevation of violence to achieve policy outcomes such as political assassinations.’

The memo also directs the FBI to build a list of antifa and antifa-aligned violent extremist groups. This is (Pam Bondi), again: 

‘Within 60 days of the issuance of this guidance, the FBI in coordination with its partners on the JTTF shall disseminate an intelligence bulletin on antifa and antifa-aligned anarchist violent extremist groups.

‘The bulletin should describe the relevant organization structures, funding sources, and tactics so that law enforcement partners can effectively investigate and policymakers can effectively understand the nature and gravity of the threat posed by these extremist groups.’

Attorney General Bondi acknowledged the existence of such lists at a House Judiciary Committee hearing Feb. 11, 2026. From Pennsylvania’s 5th District, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon:

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon: …The President’s memo broadly and vaguely links violent conduct to ideologies, and it targeted specifically anti-American, anti-Christian and anti-capitalist beliefs as well as hostility to so-called ‘traditional American views on family, religion and morality.’

President Trump has repeatedly and openly, however falsely tried to brand his political opponents with these sentiments listed in his memo, but as you know, as a lawyer, holding beliefs that the White House disagrees with is not a crime. And the statute defining domestic terrorism requires criminal acts, not just thoughts and ideas.

That’s why legal experts, nonprofit leaders, religious freedom and civil rights advocates immediately raise the alarm that the new presidential directive was a politically-motivated attack on civil society, designed to silence those who disagree with the administration.

So Ms. Bondi, Section 3 of that memo directed you, as Attorney General, to submit to the president and Stephen Miller a list of groups or entities whose members are engaged in acts that meet the definition of domestic terrorism.

And then on Dec. 4 you directed the FBI to work with a variety of law enforcement entities to compile a list of groups and entities engaged in such acts by Jan. 3, 2026 and to update that report every 30 days thereafter. 

So can we assume that you or persons under your direction at the Department of Justice have prepared that list of groups or entities who are designated as domestic terrorist organizations, and I just remind you, that’s a yes-or-no question. Did you prepare the list?

Attorney General Pam Bondi: Well, I’m not going to answer it ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ but what I will say is I know antifa is part of that. I will talk to you about that. 

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon: I’m reclaiming my time. I asked whether you prepared a list.

Attorney General Pam Bondi: On Feb. 5, 2025, an antifa member was arrested in Minneapolis. Federal— 

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon: I’m reclaiming my time. 

 Attorney General Pam Bondi: —and don’t want an answer. 

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon: The answer is yes or no. 

Committee Chair: Time belongs to the gentlelady from Pennsylvania. Gentlelady can proceed. 

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon: Okay. So will you commit to providing this committee with any list of organizations that you have recommended be designated as domestic terrorist organizations.

Attorney General Pam Bondi: We will comply with the law in all matters.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon: Will you commit to provide this committee with your list of entities that you recommend be designated as domestic terrorist organizations? 

Attorney General Pam Bondi: I’m not going to commit to anything to you because you won’t let me answer questions. 

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon: Okay. Well then we do understand that your current position is that you have a secret list of people or groups that you are accusing of domestic terrorism, but you won’t share it with Congress.

And I’d remind you that when the U.S. government designates an entity as a foreign terrorist organization, it must report that to Congress and to the entity because the government can make a mistake and the entity has the opportunity to contest it.

So your position seems to be that if you falsely designate an American or an American organization as a terrorist group, there’s nothing they can do about it. I think we get it. You don’t want to answer the questions. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi: No, you don’t get anything, regarding public safety. 

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon: Thank you. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi: Nothing. 

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon: Thank you for the insult.

It’s clear you didn’t come to Congress prepared to answer questions that the American people have every right to have answered, but if you were to prepare to answer truthfully, here’s what we expect the facts to show.

The administration is keeping lists of Americans who the White House says are engaged in domestic terrorism.

Those lists could include Americans who have not committed any acts of terrorism, but simply disagree with this administration. People like Reneé Good and Alex Pretti. And your list may include clergy elected officials and members of Indivisible groups across the country. Those lists likely don’t include Proud Boys or Oath Keepers who were actually convicted.

Americans have never tolerated political demagogues who use the government to punish people on an enemies list. It brought down McCarthy, it brought down Nixon, and it will bring down this administration as well.

Robin Bloomgarden: The attorney general admits that she has directed the FBI to create an enemies list, which is now being called a secret enemies list because she won’t share it with Congress.