Conservative group leader seeks $10M from Anti-Defamation League for defamation

The leader of a grassroots conservative organization is suing the Anti-Defamation League for defamation, alleging that the organization falsely connected him with QAnon, antisemitism, and extremist positions.

An attorney for John Sabal, who runs The Patriot Voice, demanded in a letter to ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt that the organization retract various statements and publications it had made about Sabal and compensate him for damages or face legal action.

"My client wishes to resolve this matter amicably and without litigation," wrote attorney Steven Biss. "If you refuse to [meet his terms] within 30 days of the date of this letter, however, he intends to take appropriate legal action to protect his rights and interests."

Biss included a draft complaint against the ADL, which he would file in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas should the ADL rebuff his client's demands.

That complaint demands $10,00,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.

Among the ADL publications to which Sabal objected was his inclusion in the organization's "Glossary of Extremism." He further took exception to materials saying he has "been known to peddle antisemitic beliefs" which include the idea that Jews conduct the ritual sacrifice of Christian children. He also denied connections to the QAnon conspiracy theory.