NextFin news, WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) removed a research paper from its website that detailed the prevalence of far-right extremist violence in the United States. The study, published by the National Institute of Justice, concluded that since 1990, far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists.
The removal occurred shortly after the September 10 shooting in Utah, which resulted in the death of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Archived versions of the DOJ's Office of Justice Programs website show the article was accessible on September 11 but was taken down by the afternoon of September 12.
The DOJ has not provided an official explanation for the removal despite requests for comment. One of the study's authors declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
The study titled "What NIJ research tells us about domestic terrorism" was part of the department's efforts to inform the public about domestic terrorism threats. Other research on far-right extremism remains available on the DOJ website.
The removal has drawn scrutiny amid statements from the White House on Monday indicating a focus on an alleged left-wing "domestic terror movement" following Kirk's assassination. This shift has raised concerns about the potential politicization of domestic terrorism investigations.
Federal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. are tasked with combating domestic terrorism, but the country does not maintain an official list of designated domestic terrorist organizations.
The incident and subsequent removal of the study highlight ongoing debates about the nature and sources of domestic terrorism threats in the United States.
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