Trump administration sues Southern Poverty Law Center on fraud charges

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is facing a criminal investigation by the US Justice Department due to its past use of paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups. The organization's CEO, Bryan Fair, stated that the informants helped gather crucial information that saved lives and was frequently shared with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. The SPLC was founded in 1971 by civil rights lawyer Morris Dees to support poor or disenfranchised individuals who faced continued discrimination in the South. At the time, federal laws and Supreme Court rulings aimed to end Jim Crow-era segregation were still relatively new. The investigation is ongoing, with no immediate comment from the Justice Department.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) announced it is facing a criminal investigation by the Justice Department regarding its past use of paid informants. The investigation, revealed on Tuesday, appears to focus on the SPLC's practice of using informants to gather intelligence on extremist groups. According to CEO Bryan Fair, the SPLC used these informants to monitor threats of violence and shared information with law enforcement. The SPLC maintains that the informant program, kept quiet to protect the safety of those involved, saved lives during a period of heightened violence against civil rights activists. The organization stated it will defend itself and its work vigorously.

The US Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), according to the organization's CEO. The investigation, handled by the US attorney district for the middle district of Alabama, appears to focus on the SPLC's past use of paid confidential informants to gather intelligence on violent groups. The SPLC stated it previously used informants to monitor extremist groups due to threats against its staff, stemming from its work dismantling the KKK and other hate groups. The investigation follows criticism of the SPLC's "hate group" designations and amid concerns that the Trump administration is targeting non-profit groups opposed to its policies. The SPLC has vowed to defend itself and continue its work fighting hate.