Carto is promoting a conspiracy theory that he hopes will downplay the allegations against him and instead focus on longtime adversaries of IHR and Liberty Lobby. He contends that, among others, the Anti-Defamation League, “forces of political Zionism,” and even the Church of Scientology, with which Marcellus is associated, are responsible for his estrangement from IHR. An August 15, 1994 issue of The Spotlight claims “the IHR coup was, in fact, simply a first step in the ultimate goal of the ADL, destruction of Liberty Lobby and The Spotlight.” Carto explained his conspiracy theory in an open March 4, 1994, letter to IHR Editorial Advisory Committee member Arthur Butz, “Simply put, what is happening to the IHR is the fourth attempt by its enemies to destroy it … There is not the slightest doubt in my mind but that the ADL and/or other forces of political Zionism are behind this …”
