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 October 4, 2025

FBI severs links with SPLC after Kirk tragedy

In a striking move, according to Fox News, FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Friday that the agency has officially ended all collaboration with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a nonprofit known for its controversial "hate map."

This decision comes amid growing criticism of the SPLC's partisan leanings, especially following the tragic assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk last month.

The SPLC, founded in 1971, initially focused on civil rights legal advocacy. Over the decades, it has become known for tracking extremist groups through its "hate map," which labels organizations it deems dangerous or hateful.

FBI's Stance on Partisan Influences

In recent years, critics have accused the SPLC of veering into partisan territory by targeting conservative and faith-based groups alongside recognized hate organizations. The inclusion of TPUSA on its list of extremist groups has drawn particular scrutiny.

As early as April, during the FBI's Anti-Christian Bias Panel, Patel made it clear that the agency would avoid relying on biased or agenda-driven information from external sources. He specifically pointed to the SPLC as an organization the FBI would not partner with, saying the agency will "never rely on politicized or agenda-driven intelligence from outside groups and certainly not from the SPLC."

Patel reiterated his concerns on Friday, stating, "The Southern Poverty Law Center long ago abandoned civil rights work and turned into a partisan smear machine." He added that their "hate map" has defamed ordinary Americans and even incited violence, rendering them unsuitable for any FBI partnership.

Tragic Loss of Charlie Kirk

The FBI's decision follows the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of TPUSA and father of two, on September 10. Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University when he was fatally attacked, an event that shocked many in conservative circles.

Less than a month before his death, the SPLC had targeted Kirk and TPUSA in its communications. A newsletter released on September 9, just one day prior to the tragedy, criticized Kirk, raising questions about the potential impact of such rhetoric.

In May, the SPLC had also published a case study accusing TPUSA of promoting fear about threats to "white Christian supremacy." The report described the group's actions as part of a larger effort to undermine democratic foundations.

SPLC's Controversial Labeling of TPUSA

Specifically, the SPLC's May 22 case study claimed, "Turning Point USA’s primary strategy is sowing and exploiting fear that white Christian supremacy is under attack by nefarious actors, including immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community and civil rights activists." It further alleged that TPUSA's efforts were emblematic of a broader hard-right agenda to erode democratic principles.

The backlash against the SPLC intensified after Kirk's death, with TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet publicly questioning whether the organization's rhetoric played a role in motivating the assassin. Kolvet stated, "Did these contribute to the assassin's motive? We may never know, but the swirl of extremist propaganda certainly played a role."

Kolvet also referenced a past social media post by Kirk from February 10, 2023, in which Kirk called the SPLC a hate group, with Kolvet noting, "There's a Charlie tweet for everything." He further criticized the SPLC for alleged corruption, financial mismanagement, and other internal issues while sitting on nearly $1 billion in reserves.

Public Reaction and Calls for Accountability

On Thursday, just a day before the FBI's announcement, Kolvet posted about the need to remove the influence of groups like the SPLC from major institutions. He argued, "The influence of the ADL and SPLC must be completely purged from any serious company, org, and agency."

Kolvet also suggested that companies like PayPal, which still associate with the SPLC, should face boycotts if they continue such partnerships. His post garnered support from Elon Musk, who responded simply with, "Exactly."

Hours after Kolvet's comments, Patel made the public announcement severing FBI ties with the SPLC, signaling a significant shift in the agency's approach to external partnerships. The timing suggests that public outcry and the tragic events surrounding Kirk's death may have influenced the decision, marking a critical moment in the ongoing debate over the SPLC's role and impact.

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