“I wouldn’t say no” just because “at some point some leader associated with that religious group said something that I found offensive and insulting, or that society generally would have found to be at least intolerant,” he said.

Calling it a hate group, ADL National Director Abraham Foxman responded later that Lieberman was “seriously mistaken” about the Nation of Islam.

“This organization has for years, and has continued, to promote hate and separatism,” Foxman said. “It’s unfortunately part of their being.”

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