The FBI has severed its ties with the Anti-Defamation League, citing accusations of the organization spying on conservatives amid a backlash from prominent right-wing figures.
The FBI has officially cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), alleging that the organization has engaged in spying on conservatives. This announcement was made by FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday, following criticism from notable conservatives, including Elon Musk, regarding the ADL’s classification of the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in its “Glossary of Extremism and Hate.”
In his statement, Patel highlighted the ADL’s connections to former FBI Director James Comey, who has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump. Comey was indicted last week on charges of obstruction and lying to Congress. Patel emphasized, “This FBI won’t partner with political fronts masquerading as watchdogs,” in a post on social media.
Comey, during a 2014 speech at the ADL’s National Leadership Summit, praised the organization for its contributions to law enforcement training. He noted that the FBI had made the ADL’s Law Enforcement and Society training mandatory for its personnel and collaborated with the group to create a “Hate Crimes Training Manual.” Comey described the ADL’s expertise in investigating hate crimes as “essential” and its training as “eye-opening and insightful.”
While Patel did not specifically mention Kirk in his announcement, it came shortly after the ADL removed over 1,000 references to alleged extremism associated with him. The ADL stated that the decision was made because many of the terms were outdated and that some entries had been “intentionally misrepresented and misused.”
The ADL has previously characterized Kirk and his organization, Turning Point USA (TPUSA), as promoting “Christian nationalism” and espousing various conspiracy theories related to election fraud and COVID-19. The organization also claimed that TPUSA attracted racists and that its representatives had made “bigoted remarks” about minority groups and the LGBTQ community. Additionally, it noted that white nationalists had attended TPUSA events, despite the group’s claims of rejecting white supremacist ideology.
Kirk, who was vocal in his criticisms of the ADL while alive, labeled the organization a “hate group that dons a religious mask to justify stoking hatred of the left’s enemies.” In response to Patel’s recent statement, the ADL expressed its “deep respect” for the FBI and for law enforcement officers dedicated to protecting all Americans, regardless of their ancestry, religion, ethnicity, faith, or political affiliation. The ADL reaffirmed its commitment to combating antisemitism, especially in light of a significant increase in such incidents.
Critics of the ADL, including some on the left, have accused the organization of attempting to align itself with conservative figures. They argue that the ADL has been quick to criticize leftist individuals, particularly those who oppose Israeli policies, while offering milder rebukes to Trump associates who have faced allegations of antisemitism.
This severance of ties between the FBI and the ADL marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two organizations, reflecting the growing polarization in American political discourse and the complexities surrounding issues of extremism and hate.
Source: Original article