FBI Ends Ties With ADL and SPLC Over Political Motives

FBI Director Kash Patel announced this week that the bureau has severed partnerships with two longstanding civil rights organizations, the Anti‑Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center, saying their past ties and outside intelligence products are no longer acceptable partners for the agency. Patel made the announcements on the social platform X, saying the FBI would not continue relationships with groups he described as politically motivated and citing the ADL’s prior relationship with former FBI director James Comey as a key factor.

In posts, Patel accused Comey of cultivating close ties with the ADL and of embedding FBI agents with the organization, calling that period over and writing, "This FBI won't partner with political fronts masquerading as watchdogs." Patel also criticized the Southern Poverty Law Center, saying it had abandoned civil rights work and that its "hate map" had been used to defame Americans and inspired violence. He added that under his leadership the bureau will not rely on "politicized or agenda‑driven intelligence" from outside groups and that all ties with the SPLC have been terminated.

The moves follow public controversy this month over...