WASHINGTON (RTW News) — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) was indicted on federal fraud charges on Tuesday, accused of improperly raising millions of dollars to fund informants to infiltrate extremist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges, which include wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in a statement from Alabama, where SPLC is headquartered.
The investigation comes shortly after the SPLC disclosed that it is under criminal scrutiny for its practices involving informants aimed at tracking extremist activities. The SPLC claims this program was crucial in monitoring violence and often shared findings with law enforcement agencies.
Bryan Fair, the SPLC's CEO, stated that the organization intends to defend itself vigorously against these charges. He emphasized that the informant program was vital, particularly during the turbulent years of the Civil Rights Movement, which was marked by violence against activists.
Blanche remarked that the SPLC allegedly paid over $3 million between 2014 and 2023 to activists affiliated with several extremist groups. He stated, “The SPLC was not dismantling these groups. It was instead manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose by paying sources to stoke racial hatred.”
He further asserted that the SPLC failed to maintain necessary transparency and honesty with its donors about the informant program, alleging that such disclosures are legally required of nonprofits regarding their fundraising activities.
Blanche detailed the flow of the funds, which were said to be transferred through multiple bank accounts before being distributed to individuals linked to extremist organizations, including the National Socialist Movement and the Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club.
In response, Fair stated that the secrecy around the informant program was to ensure the safety of the informants and that the information gathered had undoubtedly saved lives.
The SPLC, founded in 1971, is notable for its civil litigation efforts against white supremacist groups. However, it has faced heightened criticism from conservatives who accuse the organization of bias against right-wing entities.
The ongoing legal proceedings may further fuel concerns that the current Justice Department is misusing its power against political adversaries, following a series of probes into Trump-era opponents.
