Kash Patel (AP)
FBI Director Kash Patel said lobbyists for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reached out to the agency in a panic after learning the FBI was reviewing its relationship with the organization.”When word got out that I was about to kick the ADL out, do you know who called this building? The lobbyists for ADL, begging for a phone call. And I said, ‘No.’ That’s how I knew they were in the wrong the entire time, and we proved it,” Patel said. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tracks antisemitism and hate, but critics argue that the organization often equates criticism of Israeli policies, including military actions in Gaza and the occupation of Palestinian territories, with antisemitism.The ADL’s website acknowledges this concern, calling such a conflation a misconception, but adds that “certain forms of anti-Israel rhetoric and activism delegitimize Israel and its existence, and are antisemitic when they vilify and negate Zionism.”The FBI announced on Wednesday that it has cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), following criticism from conservatives over the group’s inclusion of slain activist Charlie Kirk’s organization in a glossary on extremism. Patel said in a social media post that the bureau “won’t partner with political fronts masquerading as watchdogs.” He added that the move affects two organizations that have tracked domestic extremism and racial and religious bias for decades, and comes after complaints from conservatives and prominent allies of US President Donald Trump.The move represents a significant shift in the FBI’s long-standing partnerships with prominent civil rights organizations, as Patel moves quickly to reshape the nation’s top federal law enforcement agency.Over the years, these groups have provided research on hate crimes and domestic extremism, offered law enforcement training, and delivered other services. However, some conservatives have criticized them for allegedly portraying their viewpoints unfairly.The ADL’s website states that the organization “works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement” to combat extremism and hate. It also notes that the FBI has relied on its data and research dating back to the 1940s.In May 2017, former FBI Director James Comey praised the ADL’s longstanding work. “For more than 100 years, you have advocated and fought for fairness and equality, for inclusion and acceptance. You never were indifferent or complacent,” Comey said at an event, as reported by AP.
