Why did Hoover and the FBI deny the existence of the mafia?

by bieberlover901

Related question, did the police forces of the northeast, esp NYPD and NY State Police also deny that the mob existed?

voyeur324

/u/rickybeingricky has a helpful answer here to a near-identical question. /u/Mikedash has written a lot about the Mob, there's a related answer here.