Leo Terrell takes charge of DOJ's war on antisemitism: "Action is imminent"

The U.S. Department of Justice is poised to take aggressive steps against antisemitism, with Senior Counsel Leo Terrell at the helm of a newly formed task force aimed at cracking down on hate, particularly on college campuses.

In a recent interview with Israel’s Channel 12 News yesterday (Wednesday), Terrell vowed that the Trump administration’s campaign to “eradicate” antisemitism has begun, promising federal hate crime indictments, funding cuts, and visa revocations in the coming weeks. “You see all these disorderly demonstrations supporting Hamas and trying to intimidate Jews? We are going to put these people in jail—not for 24 hours, but for years,” Terrell declared, signaling a no-nonsense approach to a rising tide of anti-Jewish incidents since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.

Terrell, appointed by President Donald Trump earlier this month to lead the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, has wasted no time laying out an ambitious plan. He outlined intentions to tour 10 universities accused of failing to protect Jewish students, warning administrators to comply or face lawsuits and loss of federal funding. “Protect Jewish students like you protect all other students, or we’ll sue you and take away your money,” he told Channel 12, echoing Trump’s campaign pledge to hold institutions accountable. The task force, launched on February 3 following Trump’s executive order, “Additional Measures to Combat Antisemitism,” coordinates efforts across the DOJ, Department of Education, and other agencies, with a primary focus on rooting out harassment in educational settings.

This week, the Department of Education opened new Title VI investigations into five universities, including Columbia, for alleged antisemitic harassment—moves widely seen as early fruits of Terrell’s leadership. The attorney has been vocal on social media, marking his days in Washington with Trump and recently celebrating a personal milestone—speaking at a White House Black History Month event on February 20, which he called “the greatest moment” of his life outside of God and family.

Who is Leo Terrell?

Leo James Terrell, 70, is a civil rights attorney whose career spans decades of legal advocacy and media presence. Born in Los Angeles, he first gained national attention defending O.J. Simpson during the 1990s trial, aligning himself with liberal causes and the NAACP. A former schoolteacher turned lawyer, Terrell hosted a talk radio show in L.A. before becoming a familiar face on Fox News as a liberal commentator. His political journey took a sharp turn in 2020, when he publicly abandoned the Democratic Party, embraced Trump, and rebranded himself “Leo 2.0.” Initially critical of Trump’s handling of antisemitism in early 2020, Terrell flipped within months, blaming Democrats instead and becoming one of Trump’s most ardent supporters.

Terrell’s appointment as Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in January 2025, followed by his task force role, marks his transition from pundit to policymaker. A Black Christian with no Jewish background, he’s won praise from some Jewish activists for his passion—Dov Hikind, a conservative New York figure, called him “a real mensch” who “cares deeply.” Critics, however, question his past inconsistencies and wonder if his approach will fairly address antisemitism across the political spectrum.

For now, Terrell’s message to Jewish communities is clear: “Help is on the way.”