Alt-Right Candidate Paul Nehlen Threatens ADL
Paul Nehlen Image by YouTube
By Nathan Guttman February 8, 2018
Paul Nehlen, the “alt-right” congressional candidate who has associated himself with white supremacists and published lists of his Jewish critics, is now targeting the Anti-Defamation League.
Nehlen, who had been accused by the ADL of “spewing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and unapologetically racist jargon,” is now vowing to go after the organization, presumably after being elected to Congress after defeating Speaker of the House Paul Ryan in his Wisconsin district’s Republican primary.
In an interview with the internet show Red Ice TV, which is known for hosting white supremacists and anti-Semites, Nehlen argued that the ADL’s criticism against him and his candidacy amounted to a breach of its tax-exempt status.
“I’m going to put an end to the ADL’s 501(c)3 status,” he said, referring to the section in the U.S. tax code providing exemptions for charities that do not involve themselves in political campaigns. “Mark my words, they are gonna be be sorry that they came after me because I will never, ever back down.”
An ADL spokesperson said in response: “For over a century, ADL has fought anti-Semitism and hate wherever the source, and we will continue to do so.”
Contact Nathan Guttman at [email protected] or on Twitter @nathanguttman
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
