U.S. Justice Department Establishes Domestic Terrorism Unit

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen announced the new unit to address a spike in domestic terrorism investigations.

The Justice Department is establishing a specialized unit focused on domestic terrorism, the department's top national security official told lawmakers Tuesday as he described an "elevated" threat from violent extremists in the United States.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, testifying just days after the nation observed the one-year anniversary of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, said the number of FBI investigations into suspected domestic violent extremists has more than doubled since the spring of 2020.

Related StorySelect Committee Continues Investigation Into Jan. 6 Insurrection