The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) responded to an announcement by FBI Director Kash Patel that the bureau was cutting ties with the agency due to its previous association with James Comey, with the ADL saying it has deep respect for the FBI and that the organization would remain committed to more than its core purpose of protecting Jewish people.
Why It Matters
The ADL has recently faced criticism, particularly from senior MAGA figures, who suggested that it was labeling some Christians extremist. The pushback arrived after Tesla CEO Elon Musk highlighted the agency’s 2017 classification of a specific movement called “Christian Identity.”
Patel said in a post to X on Wednesday that Comey—former FBI director who was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 25 over testimony he delivered to a Senate committee in 2020 regarding classified information—had embedded bureau agents in the ADL, adding that under Comey, collaborations between the FBI and the agency blurred the lines between law enforcement and advocacy organizations.
The criticism of the ADL comes during heightened political polarization and increasing concerns over religious violence and free speech in the United States.
What To Know
The ADL said it had seen Patel’s statement regarding the FBI’s relationship with it, and continued, in its own statement:
“ADL has deep respect for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and law enforcement officers at all levels across the country who work tirelessly every single day to protect all Americans regardless of their ancestry, religion, ethnicity, faith, political affiliation or any other point of difference.
“In light of an unprecedented surge of antisemitism, we remain more committed than ever to our core purpose to protect he Jewish people.”
The ADL’s statement came shortly after it announced that it had “retired” its Glossary of Extremism following the backlash from senior MAGA figures.
Musk and several other conservatives spoke out against the agency for listing Turning Point USA, co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk, as extremist and for classifying a specific movement called “Christian Identity” as “extremism, hate or terrorism.”
Conservative activist Kirk was shot dead while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10. Since his death, some conservatives have been feuding about his views on Israel and whether they were changing before he died.
The ADL, which classified Kirk’s group as “Christian Identity,” said some entries in its glossary were dated, adding: “We also saw a number of entries intentionally misrepresented and misused.”
What People Are Saying
Patel, on X: “James Comey wrote ‘love letters’ to the ADL and embedded FBI agents with them – a group that ran disgraceful ops spying on Americans. That era is OVER. This FBI won’t partner with political fronts masquerading as watchdogs.”
What Happens Next
The ADL’s retirement of its glossary and reaffirmation of its commitment to its core purpose signals a reassessment of its public education and engagement.
The FBI under Patel said it is conducting a broader review of partnerships with external organizations to ensure independence and avoid perceptions of political influence.
