Law professor Jonathan Turley sharply criticized prominent figures who deny the existence of Antifa, calling their stance a modern echo of Hoover-era suppression. He argues that refusing to acknowledge Antifa’s actions amounts to political blindness and threatens to distort public understanding.
Turley’s critique appears in a column in The Hill, which was referenced by Legal Insurrection. He draws a parallel between current denials and J. Edgar Hoover’s decades‑long refusal to accept organized crime, despite abundant evidence. Turley contends that some politicians and pundits intentionally dismiss Antifa’s existence to avoid political discomfort or accountability.
He singles out Rep. Dan Goldman and former House Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler among those who have publicly denied or minimized Antifa’s presence. Turley also notes that cultural voices such as late-night hosts have mocked concerns about Antifa, calling it mythical or fictional.
Turley makes clear he is not endorsing a blanket classification of Antifa as a terrorist organization—he cautions that such designations raise complex free speech issues. But he insists that the movement is a real and observable phenomenon, with documented violence, which demands honest debate and legal accountability.
