A. Mitchell Palmer

A. Mitchell Palmer was an American politician and lawyer who served as the U.S. Attorney General from 1919 to 1921. He is best known for initiating the "Palmer Raids" in 1919-1920, a series of aggressive actions against suspected radicals and anarchists during the Red Scare, a period of widespread fear of communism in the U.S. Palmer's actions included mass arrests and deportations, often without sufficient evidence. His controversial methods raised concerns about civil liberties, and his approach ultimately contributed to the decline of his political career and a broader debate about government overreach in times of social unrest.