Reuters reports:

The FBI said on Wednesday it cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish group that tracks antisemitism, after conservatives criticized the group for including slain activist Charlie Kirk’s organization in a glossary on extremism.

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

The ADL said it took note of Patel’s announcement and “has deep respect” for the FBI.

Patel’s announcement followed criticism of the ADL by right-wing voices, including billionaire Elon Musk, over its inclusion of Kirk’s Turning Point USA in a “Glossary of Extremism and Hate.” Kirk was assassinated in September.

After that criticism, the ADL removed the entire glossary from its website. The glossary had said Turning Point USA had a history of “bigoted statements,” a charge the group rejects.

ADL’s website says it “works closely with federal, state and local law enforcement” in fighting extremism and hate. It also notes the FBI had turned to it for data and research as far back as the 1940s.

U.S. officials have taken part in ADL events over the years.

Former FBI director James Comey, against whom President Donald Trump’s Justice Department has filed criminal charges, noted at a 2014 ADL summit that the FBI worked with the group to host civil rights and hate crime training for state and local counterparts. [Continue reading…]