FBI cuts ties with leftist group that put Turning Point USA on its 'hate map' before Kirk assassination

The nonprofit, founded in 1971, originally focused on civil rights legal advocacy. However, in recent years, critics claim it has become highly partisan, targeting conservatives and faith-based organizations alongside actual hate groups.

In May, the SPLC listed TPUSA in its "hate and extremism" report, calling it a "hard-right organization with links to Southern Poverty Law Center-identified hard-right extremists."

On Thursday, TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet shared one of Kirk's X posts from Feb. 10, 2023, in which he described the SPLC as a hate group, saying, "There's a Charlie tweet for everything." 

"What's happening right now to the ADL and SPLC is critically important and deadly serious," Kolvet wrote in another post Thursday, sharing a photo of the May SPLC case study. "They are both part of an ecosystem leveraged by radical left vigilantes to dehumanize conservatives and stoke political violence. They provide the sheen of legitimacy for the left's violent foot soldiers."

Kirk also posted about the topic on May 25, denouncing the SPLC for comparing TPUSA to extremist groups like the KKK and arguing the SPLC is a corrupt, money-driven organization that raises funds by stoking fear.

"Their game plan? Scare financial institutions into debanking us, pressure schools to cancel us, and demonize us so some unhinged lunatic feels justified targeting us," Kirk wrote. "Remember the Family Research Council? An SPLC-inspired gunman went after them. They'd love nothing more than to see TPUSA in the crosshairs. … Being on their list is a badge of honor. It means they're terrified that we're so effective. Keep crying, SPLC - America's done with your scam."

Kolvet highlighted that on Sept. 9, the day before Kirk's murder, the SPLC published a newsletter "directly attacking Charlie."

"Did these contribute to the assassin's motive?" Kolvet wrote Thursday. "We may never know, but the swirl of extremist propaganda certainly played a role. The SPLC has been credibly accused of corruption, mishandling of donations, union-busting, and covering up of sexual assault by senior leadership, all while sitting on nearly $1 billion in reserves and being based in red Alabama. These are legitimate predicates for investigation. Those should happen immediately.

"The influence of the ADL and SPLC must be completely purged from any serious company, org, and agency. Companies like PayPal which still rely on these disgraced orgs should be the focus of future boycotts if they insist on continuing their association."

Patel's announcement about the FBI cutting ties with the SPLC came just hours after Kolvet's post.