Washington, D.C. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has officially severed its decades-long partnership with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent Jewish civil rights organization. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the decision on Wednesday, October 2, 2025, citing concerns over the ADL's role as a 'political front' and its historical ties with former FBI Director James Comey. The move comes amidst significant conservative criticism directed at the ADL.
Reasons for Termination and Conservative Backlash
Director Patel's announcement was made via social media, where he stated that the FBI 'won't partner with political fronts masquerading as watchdogs.' He specifically criticized former FBI Director James Comey, alleging that Comey 'wrote 'love letters' to the ADL and embedded FBI agents with them — a group that ran disgraceful ops spying on Americans.' Patel declared that 'That era is OVER.' This decision follows heightened conservative backlash against the ADL, which intensified after the organization included Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA in its now-removed 'Glossary of Extremism and Hate.'
Prominent conservative figures, including billionaire Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr., were vocal in their criticism of the ADL's categorization of Turning Point USA. The backlash was further fueled by the recent shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September, with some critics suggesting the FBI was influenced by the ADL's definitions in its investigations.
ADL's Response and Historical Collaboration
In response to the mounting criticism, the ADL removed its 'Glossary of Extremism' from its website. The organization stated that an 'increasing number of entries in the Glossary were outdated' and that some were being 'intentionally misrepresented and misused.' Despite the termination of the partnership, the ADL expressed 'deep respect' for the FBI and law enforcement, reaffirming its commitment to combating antisemitism and hate.
The collaboration between the FBI and the ADL spanned decades, involving various initiatives aimed at combating extremism and hate crimes. This partnership included:
- Intelligence sharing
- Training programs for state and local law enforcement agencies
- Workshops such as the 'Law Enforcement and Society' program, which educated officers on the history of the Holocaust and its implications for law enforcement
- Development of a hate crimes manual
Broader Context and Comey's Indictment
The termination of the FBI-ADL partnership also coincides with the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. Comey was indicted last week on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, allegations he denies. Director Patel's statements explicitly linked the decision to end ties with the ADL to Comey's past relationship with the organization, suggesting a broader effort by the current FBI leadership to distance itself from previous administrations' policies and perceived political entanglements. The FBI stated that the break aims to protect its independence and avoid political influence.
5 Comments
Mariposa
Disgraceful. The FBI is throwing out decades of valuable partnership for political optics.
Comandante
The conservative outcry against the ADL certainly played a role here, and the FBI's move might appease some critics. Yet, the question remains whether the FBI can effectively address rising extremism without partnerships with civil rights organizations that have deep community ties and expertise.
Africa
Finally, the FBI is cutting ties with partisan groups. Good riddance to the ADL's political agenda.
Fuerza
It's understandable that concerns arose about the ADL's 'Glossary of Extremism' and its impact, but to completely end a decades-long partnership feels like an overcorrection. Perhaps a restructuring of their collaboration would have been more appropriate than a full termination.
Ongania
The ADL became too politicized. The FBI needs to be neutral, period.