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Federal prosecutors credited an executive order from President Donald Trump with helping the FBI uncover and stop a planned New Year’s Eve terror attack by a “far-left” extremist group in California.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the order triggered the investigation that resulted in multiple arrests.
“This investigation, I can confidently say, was triggered as a result of the president’s executive order in 2025 of September and the attorney general’s memo directing the federal government to move its resources and start looking at these groups,” Essayli said Tuesday on “Fox & Friends.”
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According to Essayli, the executive order prompted a federal probe that exposed the group’s alleged plot. The Justice Department says four members of an “anti-capitalist and anti-government” group are now in custody in connection with the case.
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Essayli said the suspects belonged to a group called the Order of the Black Lotus, which operates under the Turtle Island Liberation Front. He described the larger organization as sharing “the hallmarks of Antifa” and promoting political violence.
In September, Trump signed an executive order aimed at curbing violence that he said stems from far-left groups like Antifa, declaring them a domestic terrorist organization.
Authorities say the suspects were planning to attack U.S. companies in California with explosive devices on New Year’s Eve. Essayli described the group as “far-left” and said they also discussed targeting ICE agents and government vehicles.
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According to Essayli, the FBI wasn’t “really looking” at these groups prior to the Trump administration. He said the bureau is now “laser-focused” on identifying and dismantling these types of groups.
“You can be assured that we have the full resources and assets of the federal government looking at these groups,” Essayli said.
He added that Trump’s order gave investigators time to embed an undercover agent within the group, allowing authorities to monitor their plans and preparations in real time.
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Prosecutors say the suspects tested explosive devices, shared detailed written instructions for making pipe bombs, and communicated through encrypted messaging apps.
“They may look silly, but they’re deadly serious, and they’re very sophisticated,” Essayli said.
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