{"id":2474626,"date":"2025-08-14T10:35:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T14:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/antifa-inc-how-an-ideology-became-an-organized-criminal-network\/"},"modified":"2025-08-14T10:36:49","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T14:36:49","slug":"antifa-inc-how-an-ideology-became-an-organized-criminal-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/antifa-inc-how-an-ideology-became-an-organized-criminal-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Antifa Inc: How an ideology became an organized criminal network"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fantifa-inc-how-an-ideology-became-an-organized-criminal-network%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2474626&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article &#8220;Antifa Inc: How an ideology became an organized criminal network,&#8221; published by the Washington Examiner, explores the transformation of Antifa from a loosely connected, decentralized left-wing movement into a more organized and criminally involved network across the United States. Originally seen as a collection of &#8220;resistance&#8221; groups opposing fascism through anarcho-communist beliefs, Antifa has grown in numbers and sophistication, with some cells engaging in coordinated criminal activities.<\/p>\n<p>The article highlights that while political figures like Joe Biden have described Antifa as an idea rather than an organization, recent events-such as repeated violent protests and attacks on federal property-suggest a more structured and militant presence. This raises questions about whether Antifa members could be prosecuted under laws targeting organized crime, such as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the piece addresses ongoing debates about designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, a move discussed by the Trump governance and some lawmakers. Even though such a designation would be largely symbolic under current legal frameworks, proponents argue it could send a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >strong message amid continuing violence attributed<\/a> to Antifa groups.<\/p>\n<p>the series seeks to document Antifa&#8217;s rise, debunk misconceptions, and examine potential legal responses to its evolving role in American political and criminal landscapes.  <\/p>\n<div id=\"ld-4686-3758\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:14832835450050406,size:[0, 0],id:\"ld-4686-3758\"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.decide.dev\/_js\/ajs.js\";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,\"script\",\"ld-ajs\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Antifa Inc: How an ideology became an organized criminal network<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2202152\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><em>By design, antifa is a decentralized, left-wing movement of loosely knit &ldquo;resistance&rdquo; networks operating primarily in Democratic strongholds. But in recent years, antifa&rsquo;s forces have become highly organized and increasingly sophisticated, with organized crime cells cropping up across the country. This <\/em>Washington Examiner <em>series, <\/em><strong>Antifa, Inc.<\/strong><em>, will document antifa&rsquo;s rise in America, dispel modern misconceptions surrounding it, and examine whether RICO charges or a domestic terrorist organization designation could happen in the future.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Part 1: How the antifa movement has metastasized<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-canva wp-block-embed-canva\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Accredited antifa chapters throughout the United States\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canva.com\/design\/DAGvZS6xVjs\/qSF9rxQ6X_meNU0TkiZHFA\/view?embed&amp;meta\" height=\"464\" width=\"696\" style=\"border: none; border-radius: 8px; width: 696px; height: 464px;\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" allow=\"fullscreen\"><\/iframe> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Antifa is an idea, not an organization,&rdquo; Joe Biden, then the Democratic presidential nominee, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/175944\/biden-leverages-trumps-fbi-director-to-parry-claims-about-antifa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">declared<\/a> on the 2020 debate stage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3498818\/pro-hamas-islamic-cleric-private-ceremony-omar-fateh\/\">Pro-Hamas Islamic cleric held private ceremony honoring Omar Fateh<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3470089\/antifa-tracker-far-left-activists-who-face-federal-charges\/\">Antifa tracker: The far-left activists who face federal charges under Trump&#8217;s DOJ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3498511\/james-walkinshaw-democratic-primary-funds-gerry-connolly\/\">Congressional hopeful relied on dead boss&#8217;s cash to win primary election&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Not a militia,&rdquo; Biden insisted, amid more than&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2602785\/as-portland-sees-more-than-100-nights-of-riots-and-protests-two-thirds-of-voters-have-a-negative-view-of-mayor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">100 consecutive nights<\/a>&nbsp;of antifa-led attacks on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/544264\/us-courthouse-in-portland-would-have-been-burned-to-the-ground-if-not-for-dhs-cbp-commissioner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">federal property<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2590757\/portland-rioters-set-police-precinct-on-fire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">police precincts<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2608203\/portland-police-say-downtown-businesses-sustained-23m-in-damages-from-weeks-of-protests-and-violence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">downtown businesses<\/a>&nbsp;in Portland, Oregon.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antifa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Antifa<\/a>, short for antifascist, is indeed an extremist ideology, a blend of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-the-antifa-movement-has-metastasized-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"How the ... has metastasized - ...\">anarcho-communist beliefs opposed<\/a> to adversaries and policies perceived as &ldquo;fascist.&rdquo; However, its left-wing teachings have incited self-identified members to assemble,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3466426\/meet-the-antifa-cell-terrorism-attempted-murder-ambush-at-texas-ice-facility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">form factions<\/a>, and commit crimes in the name of so-called &ldquo;antifascist&rdquo; activism.<\/p>\n<p>As Democrats and liberal media outlets downplay the threat of antifa militancy by portraying antifa as a right-wing bogeyman,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/politics\/43612\/the-church-of-anti-fascism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this nationwide movement<\/a>&nbsp;is growing in numbers and evolving into high-level criminal operations.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3493802\/antifa-organization-movement-has-metastasized\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>Read more from the <\/em>Washington Examiner.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Part 2: Could antifa co-conspirators ever face RICO charges?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Federal officers guard the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse as a fire lit by protesters burns on the other side of a perimeter fence Saturday, July 25, 2020, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo\/Noah Berger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The question of whether antifa is, in fact, an organization is a long-debated legal question, one&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/14869\/homeland-security-panel-lawmakers-confused-about-just-what-antifa-is\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Washington has wrangled with<\/a>&nbsp;for years.<\/p>\n<p>The debate has&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2588288\/split-among-gop-lawmakers-over-labeling-antifa-a-terrorist-group\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stumped some lawmakers<\/a>, unsure about antifa&rsquo;s physical framework, while&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2323084\/ted-cruz-urges-fbi-to-open-rico-investigation-into-antifa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">spurring others<\/a>&nbsp;to want to unmask these militants engaged in high-level, and sometimes large-scale, coordinated efforts.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3470089\/antifa-tracker-far-left-activists-who-face-federal-charges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>ANTIFA TRACKER: THE FAR-LEFT ACTIVISTS WHO FACE FEDERAL CHARGES UNDER TRUMP&rsquo;S DOJ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Although many antifa chapters have the hallmarks of a criminal enterprise, antifa&rsquo;s anonymous and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/could-antifa-co-conspirators-ever-face-federal-rico-charges-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Could ... co-conspirators ever face federal ...? - ...\">seemingly amorphous nature raises questions<\/a> regarding whether a diffuse, purportedly leaderless movement can be criminally charged under federal racketeering and conspiracy law.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3495821\/could-antifa-co-conspirators-federal-rico-charges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>Read more from the <\/em>Washington Examiner.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Part 3: Designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Multiple groups, including Rose City Antifa, the Proud Boys and conservative activist Haley Adams protest in downtown Portland, Ore., Saturday, June 29, 2019. | (Dave Killen\/\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/1724617\/trump-says-us-to-designate-antifa-as-a-terrorist-organization-after-george-floyd-protests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">long entertained the idea<\/a>&nbsp;of designating antifa as a domestic&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/terrorism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">terrorist<\/a>&nbsp;organization.<\/p>\n<p>However, using the term &ldquo;terrorists&rdquo; to describe, identify, and sanction domestic groups remains a controversial topic and is considered politically charged by observers on both sides of the aisle.<\/p>\n<p>As the federal statute stands, labeling antifa as a domestic terrorist threat would be largely symbolic, though some proponents support sending a public message as antifa&rsquo;s forces continue to terrorize communities.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3498063\/designating-antifa-as-a-domestic-terrorist-organization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>Read more from the <\/em>Washington Examiner.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2202152\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2202152\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Antifa Inc: From decentralized ideology to crime network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2474627,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Antifa-flag.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3802,7940,36394],"class_list":["post-2474626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-antifa","tag-ideology","tag-organized-crime"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Antifa-flag.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2474626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2474626"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2474626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2474630,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2474626\/revisions\/2474630"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2474627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2474626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2474626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2474626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}