FBI severs cooperation with Anti-Defamation League over Charlie Kirk

The FBI has announced it will no longer collaborate with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish organization known for monitoring anti-Semitism and extremism.

The move comes after weeks of criticism from conservative figures over the ADL’s inclusion of Turning Point USA, founded by slain activist Charlie Kirk, in a glossary on hate groups.

In a statement shared on social media Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau “won’t partner with political fronts masquerading as watchdogs.”

The ADL responded cautiously, noting that it had taken Patel’s comments into account and reaffirming that it maintains “deep respect” for the FBI.

The decision follows escalating criticism from conservative commentators, including billionaire Elon Musk, who accused the ADL of bias after the group’s glossary linked Turning Point USA to “bigoted statements.” The ADL later removed the glossary from its website, though the organization has long maintained close ties with law enforcement, providing research, training, and data since the 1940s.

Over the years, US officials have frequently appeared at ADL events. Former FBI director James Comey, speaking at a 2014 ADL summit, highlighted the agency’s partnership with the group in conducting hate crime and civil rights training nationwide.

- Fallout from Kirk’s assassination -

The killing of Charlie Kirk in September has deepened political divisions across the US Public debate over his legacy has triggered intense reactions, including the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the dismissal of analyst Matthew Dowd from MSNBC, and the firing of columnist Karen Attiah from The Washington Post.

Kirk’s detractors accused him of spreading rhetoric hostile toward Black, Muslim, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and women’s communities. Civil rights advocates labeled his positions racist, misogynistic, transphobic, and anti-immigrant. His supporters, however, described him as a defender of conservative principles who energized young voters and became a prominent voice for President Donald Trump.

- Broader criticism of the ADL -

While the ADL continues to position itself as a leading watchdog against anti-Semitism and hate, the organization has also faced criticism from activists who argue it blurs the line between anti-Semitism and criticism of 'Israeli' government policies. Opponents point to its defense of 'Israel’s' military actions in Gaza and its broader occupation of Palestinian territories.

The ADL rejects that characterization, insisting that criticism of 'Israel' alone does not constitute anti-Semitism. Still, it maintains that “certain forms of anti-Israel rhetoric and activism delegitimize Israel and its existence, and are antisemitic when they vilify and negate Zionism.”