A top FBI official toed the White House line about antifa as a major domestic terror threat at a House hearing on Thursday — but he struggled to answer questions about the leaderless movement.
Pressed repeatedly by a top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee about antifa’s size and location, the operations director of the FBI’s national security division didn’t have answers.
At one point, the FBI’s Michael Glasheen fumbled with his hands as he tried to find an answer for the question from Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.
“Well, the investigations are active,” Glasheen said.
Glasheen’s comments came three months after President Donald Trump proclaimed that antifa is a “major terror organization,” even though it the broad political movement does not have a hierarchy or leadership.
Trump followed his designation with a presidential memo on September 25 directing the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Forces to investigate and prosecute antifascists and other adherents of “anti-Americanism.”
The formless nature of the antifascist movement, however, appears to have flummoxed the FBI as it attempts to carry out Trump’s orders.
Glasheen called antifa “our primary concern right now” and called it “the most immediate, violent threat” from domestic terrorists. That led Thompson to ask him where antifa is located and how many members it has.
“We are building out the infrastructure right now,” Glasheen said.
“So what does that mean?” Thompson shot back. “I’m just — we’re trying to get the information. You said antifa is a terrorist organization. Tell us, as a committee, how did you come to that? Where do they exist? How many members do they have in the United States as of right now?”
“Well, that’s very fluid,” Glasheen said. “It’s ongoing for us to understand that. The same, no different than Al Qaeda or ISIS.”
Glasheen visibly struggled to answer the question before saying that the FBI’s investigations were “active.”
58 Comments
AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works · 98 pts · 235d
You fool, that's exactly why they're so dangerous! They can be everywhere and nowhere all at once. Everybody and nobody at the same time. That's why it's safest to just assume everyone who disagrees with the president is Antifa and then ask questions once you have people in custody.
Maiq@piefed.social · 57 pts · 235d
Schrödinger's terrorist.
Quill7513@slrpnk.net · 11 pts · 234d
the enemy is both everywhere and being kept at bay. it is simultaneously strong and weak.
this is a key aspect of fascism
Skrufimonki@lemmynsfw.com · 5 pts · 234d
Let's be real we really didn't have numbers for the 20+ multi country war against the Taliban either.
kittenzrulz123@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 83 pts · 235d
The location of antifa is the hearts and minds of every class conscious worker
Tarquinn2049@lemmy.world · 67 pts · 235d
Did they do the math on that sentence?
Anti-fascists and other anti-americans.
Anti-fascist = Anti-american
Divide both sides by anti.
Fascist = American
logi@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 234d
It's a tiny bit more subtle. "and other" gives us a subset relation:
And then applying a negation flips it to
And I'm hoping this still qualifies as reductio ad absurdum.
Zombie@feddit.uk · 7 pts · 234d
What do the horseshoe shapes mean?
I would search online but I have no idea how to phrase it because I don't know what I'm looking at.
belluck@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 12 pts · 234d
Don’t know the proper English terminology but it’s the mathematic way to write „all anti-fascists are anti-american“ and „all Americans are Fascists“ respectively
Zombie@feddit.uk · 11 pts · 234d
Aha! Got it, this:
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_theory
Thanks! :)
logi@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 234d
Subset and superset, respectively.
io@piefed.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 234d
it's called subset, if americans is a subset of fascists it means that all americans are also part of the set of all fascists, but there are fadcists that aren't american. it also means that if you have an element of the set of americans you automatically know that it is also part of the subset of fascists
0x0@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 234d
Has been for a few decades, yes.
Diva@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 234d
more than a few tbh. closer to a few centuries
Tarquinn2049@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 234d
Yes, but they normally do their best to pretend it isn't the case. Though there is of course the argument that this 'is' their best.
sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz · 7 pts · 235d
Ah, if only life had the clarity and balance of Algebra.
KingPorkChop@lemmy.ca · 39 pts · 234d
The really nice thing about Antifa is if anyone mentions Antifa as a group of people at a thing causing trouble, I instantly know that person is a drooling, fucking idiot.
Antifa is the new pizzagate.
abbiistabbii@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 10 pts · 234d
Oh no! It's worse than that.
"Antifa" is the new "Witchcraft". It's a way to arrest people for terrorism who aren't terrorists.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 234d
The conservative media reaction to J6 was to proclaim everyone involved as Antifa. It's just reflexive for the party organs at this point.
If you're opposed, you're a terrorist.
If you're not enthusiastic, you're a terrorist.
If you're embarrassing, you're a terrorist
Zier@fedia.io · 34 pts · 235d
The headquarters for Antifa is in the attic above the Baskin-Robbins. That's why there are "31 flavors". When you go in, order the "Unicorn Special" and they will let you in the secret passage door. Follow the sprinkles and push on the door with the pink spoon on it. Everyone is initiated for the first time with an ice cream disco party.
tym@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 234d
KonalaKoala@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 234d
Does the phrase "American Nazi Trump Is a Fucking Asshole" hold some meaning to that?
0x0@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 234d
Underrated comment.
Tshirteable.
KonalaKoala@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 234d
So, you would like to get the phrase "American Nazi Trump Is a Fucking Asshole" printed onto t-shirts and see how much of the inventory sells?
0x0@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 234d
I might just print one.
Naaaah i'm lazy.
But i might.
mriormro@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 234d
Today@lemmy.world · 33 pts · 235d
I like when people show pictures of their parents and grandparents in their antifa uniforms.
huquad@lemmy.ml · 31 pts · 235d
Is the terrorist known as antifa in the room right now?
0x0@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 234d
Yeah, right there taking selfies with someone in a Guy Fawkes mask.
who@feddit.org · 29 pts · 235d
I wonder when Trump will learn that his claim to power comes from one of the most famous antifascist documents in the world: The Constitution of the United States.
Edit: If anyone ever needs incontrovertible evidence that Trump is anti-American, I think his position on this qualifies.
a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 235d
I thought his claimed to power came from tens of millions of racists.
Rothe@piefed.social · 11 pts · 234d
The constitution of the US is not "one of the most famous antifascist documents in the world".
SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 235d
Well he is trying to bring back the monarchy, king donny
Bigfish@lemmynsfw.com · 21 pts · 235d
Government: We're anti antifa.
Everyone: So you're anti anti facist?
Government: Yes
Everyone: What facists?
Government: 😐🖕
MagicShel@lemmy.zip · 20 pts · 235d
Antifa headquarters are at 1060 W. Addison, Chicago, IL. And we hate Illinois Nazis.
HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 19 pts · 234d
Antifa HQ is up trumps ass. Conveniently where his nose is
0x0@lemmy.zip · 16 pts · 234d
How Many Members Does Anti Fascism Have? Where Is Anti Fascism's Headquarters? The FBI Has No Answers. Go figure...
ChaoticEntropy@feddit.uk · 13 pts · 234d
Anti-Facism is the greatest threat facing Trump's America... and please don't read any further in that.
SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 235d
It is right next to the anarchists' hq
littlewonder@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 235d
I heard the headquarters are in the basement of the Alamo.
metallic_substance@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 235d
I've been looking for my stolen bike. If anyone sees it down there, please let me know. It's red and has tassles on the handlegrips
RustyShackleford@programming.dev · 11 pts · 234d
Some of the greatest Americans of all time were anti-fascists.
Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 235d
Hollywoo Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things?? Let's Find Out!
darkdemize@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 235d
Bojack, and politics, in the same room? What is this, a crossover episode?
WanderWisley@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 234d
The FBI has no answers should just be the headline for any news that involves them.
jpablo68@infosec.pub · 9 pts · 234d
Do they think antifa is like a club or something?
ameancow@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 234d
Blumpkinhead@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 234d
I'd join
SabinStargem@lemmy.today · 9 pts · 234d
I know where they are, and the numbers: Arlington, about 400,000 strong. One of them might be Glasheen's grandfather, who probably regrets not wearing a Service-issued condom.
MisterOwl@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 234d
slow clap
DaMummy@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 235d
Jokes on him. Antifa were FBI all along.
UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 235d
I am antifacus
_stranger_@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 234d
0, Trump's asshole. Final answers.
k0e3@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 235d
I... I don't have your Antifa... It's in Bill's house, and Fred's House!
anugeshtu@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 234d
Holy shit, this is getting wilder and wilder. What's next on the dystopian agenda? Burning all books considered as "woke"? Having everybody not voting for Trump wear some kind of marker? Censoring anything having another ideology and imprison (or worse) anybody trying to spread that information? Declaring prescription drugs as weapons of mass destruction? Oh, wait.
soldan@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 234d
It this real life or it is just fantasy
Sam_Bass@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 234d
Approx. 270 million members with headquarters at the corner of East and Capitol vstreets Washington, d.c. 20510
Paranoidfactoid@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 234d
At an ANTIFA pride rally, participants would affirm their 2nd Ammunition Rights in the US Constitutional.
some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org · 2 pts · 234d
All right, fine. We meet at my place on Tuesdays. Every third Saturday is Activity Club and we vote on the event the meeting before. Last month was bowling. This month we're taking a tour of a working farm that lets you milk their cows.
Sorry for all the confusion, everyone. We aim to operate with complete transparency from now on.
SethTaylor@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 234d
I'LL never tell!
[ laughs maniacally ]