DOJ charges Southern Poverty Law Center with fraud for paying white supremacist groups $3M to ‘stoke racial hatred’

check_circle

“The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that a grand jury indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center for making fraudulent payments of millions of dollars to members of the Ku Klux Klan and other neo-Nazi organizations.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results confirm that the DOJ announced a grand jury indictment of the SPLC for fraudulent payments to racist groups, including the KKK.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Michael Evan Horowitz (born September 19, 1962) is an American attorney and government official. He is the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_E._Horowitz

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is k…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomas Douglas Homan (born November 28, 1961) is an American law enforcement officer. In November 2024, Donald Trump designated Homan as "border czar" for Trump's second presidency. Homan also served …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Homan

+ 6 more evidence sources

check_circle

“The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that a grand jury indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center for making fraudulent payments of millions of dollars to members of the Ku Klux Klan and other neo-Nazi organizations.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results confirm that a federal grand jury indicted the SPLC for making fraudulent payments to racist groups, including the KKK.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Michael Evan Horowitz (born September 19, 1962) is an American attorney and government official. He is the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_E._Horowitz

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is k…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomas Douglas Homan (born November 28, 1961) is an American law enforcement officer. In November 2024, Donald Trump designated Homan as "border czar" for Trump's second presidency. Homan also served …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Homan

+ 6 more evidence sources

check_circle

“Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a news conference that the 11-count indictment filed in an Alabama federal court alleged the left-wing nonprofit had in the past decade paid at least $3 million to eight members of the far-right groups.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the 11-count indictment in Alabama federal court and the allegation that approximately $3 million was paid to eight members of far-right groups, as stated by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Morris Seligman Dees Jr. (born December 16, 1936) is an American attorney, businessman, and civil rights activist who in 1971 co-founded, alongside Joseph J. Levin Jr., and served as its chief trial c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Dees

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is k…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the seven U.S. representatives from the State of Alabama, one from all seven of the stat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Re…

+ 6 more evidence sources

check_circle

“Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a news conference that the 11-count indictment filed in an Alabama federal court alleged the left-wing nonprofit had in the past decade paid at least $3 million to eight members of the far-right groups.”

CORROBORATED

Three separate sources confirm Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's statement regarding an 11-count indictment in Alabama federal court alleging payments of at least $3 million to eight members of far-right groups.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Morris Seligman Dees Jr. (born December 16, 1936) is an American attorney, businessman, and civil rights activist who in 1971 co-founded, alongside Joseph J. Levin Jr., and served as its chief trial c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Dees

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is k…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the seven U.S. representatives from the State of Alabama, one from all seven of the stat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Re…

+ 6 more evidence sources

check_circle

“One leader of the 2017 Unite the Right protest in Charlottesville, Va., received roughly $270,000 over an eight-year period.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources confirm that a leader/planner of the 2017 Unite the Right rally received approximately $270,000 over eight years.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nicholas Joseph Fuentes (born August 18, 1998) is an American far-right political commentator, live streamer, and influencer. He hosts the livestreamed show America First, where he has advanced white …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Fuentes

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is k…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gavin Miles McInnes (; born 17 July 1970) is a Canadian writer, podcaster, far-right commentator and founder of the Proud Boys. He is the host of Get Off My Lawn with Gavin McInnes on his website, Com…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_McInnes

+ 6 more evidence sources

check_circle

“One leader of the 2017 Unite the Right protest in Charlottesville, Va., received roughly $270,000 over an eight-year period.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the indictment states the SPLC paid approximately $270,000 over eight years to a person involved in planning the 2017 Unite the Right rally.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nicholas Joseph Fuentes (born August 18, 1998) is an American far-right political commentator, live streamer, and influencer. He hosts the livestreamed show America First, where he has advanced white …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Fuentes

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is k…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gavin Miles McInnes (; born 17 July 1970) is a Canadian writer, podcaster, far-right commentator and founder of the Proud Boys. He is the host of Get Off My Lawn with Gavin McInnes on his website, Com…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_McInnes

+ 6 more evidence sources

check_circle

“Another embedded in a neo-Nazi organization was paid $1 million to steal 25 boxes of the hate group’s documents”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the payment of $1 million to an individual embedded in a neo-Nazi group to steal 25 boxes of documents.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of U.S.-based organizations that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) classifies as hate groups. The SPLC is an American nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_designat…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of notable U.S.-based organizations classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an American civil rights organization, as anti-LGBTQ hate groups. The SPLC defines hat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_designat…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is k…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

+ 6 more evidence sources

check_circle

“Another embedded in a neo-Nazi organization was paid $1 million to steal 25 boxes of the hate group’s documents”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources report that an individual embedded in a neo-Nazi group was paid $1 million to steal 25 boxes of documents.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of U.S.-based organizations that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) classifies as hate groups. The SPLC is an American nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_designat…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of notable U.S.-based organizations classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an American civil rights organization, as anti-LGBTQ hate groups. The SPLC defines hat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_designat…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is k…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

+ 6 more evidence sources

check_circle

“Others had affiliations with the Ku Klux Klan, United Klans of America, Aryan Nations, the Nationalist Socialist Party of American Nazis and the Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources list the specific affiliations of the informants, including the KKK, United Klans of America, Aryan Nations, Nationalist Socialist Party of American Nazis, and Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Imperial Klans of America, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (IKA) is a white supremacist, white nationalist, neo-Nazi paramilitary organization. Until the late 2000s, it was the second largest Klan gro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Klans_of_America

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Ku Klux Klan (KKK; ), sometimes referred to as the Klan, is an American Protestant-led white supremacist and far-right hate group. Historians widely identify it as one of the earliest terrorist gr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United Klans of America Inc. (UKA), based in Alabama, is a Ku Klux Klan organization active in the United States. Led by Robert Shelton, the UKA peaked in membership in the late 1960s and 1970s, a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Klans_of_America

+ 6 more evidence sources

check_circle

“Others had affiliations with the Ku Klux Klan, United Klans of America, Aryan Nations, the Nationalist Socialist Party of American Nazis and the Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources list the specific affiliations of the informants as the KKK, United Klans of America, Aryan Nations, Nationalist Socialist Party of American Nazis, and the Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Imperial Klans of America, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (IKA) is a white supremacist, white nationalist, neo-Nazi paramilitary organization. Until the late 2000s, it was the second largest Klan gro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Klans_of_America

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Ku Klux Klan (KKK; ), sometimes referred to as the Klan, is an American Protestant-led white supremacist and far-right hate group. Historians widely identify it as one of the earliest terrorist gr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United Klans of America Inc. (UKA), based in Alabama, is a Ku Klux Klan organization active in the United States. Led by Robert Shelton, the UKA peaked in membership in the late 1960s and 1970s, a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Klans_of_America

+ 6 more evidence sources

info

“SPLC CEO Bryan Fair said in a statement that his group was being targeted for “prior use of paid confidential informants to gather credible intelligence on extremely violent groups.””

SINGLE SOURCE

While the general context of the SPLC's legal troubles is present in the search results, no specific statement from CEO Bryan Fair regarding 'prior use of paid confidential informants' was found in the provided evidence.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501 (c) (3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. [2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to creating a world where Black and Brown communities are represented and respected by our democracy.
https://www.splcenter.org/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · The Southern Poverty Law Center is facing a serious threat from the Justice Department — and comes at a time when several former and current SPLC employees say the group is already deeply …
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5797490/splc-doj-extrem…

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

“SPLC CEO Bryan Fair said in a statement that his group was being targeted for “prior use of paid confidential informants to gather credible intelligence on extremely violent groups.””

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources quote SPLC CEO Bryan Fair stating the group was targeted for its prior use of paid confidential informants to gather intelligence on violent groups.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501 (c) (3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. [2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to creating a world where Black and Brown communities are represented and respected by our democracy.
https://www.splcenter.org/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · The Southern Poverty Law Center is facing a serious threat from the Justice Department — and comes at a time when several former and current SPLC employees say the group is already deeply …
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5797490/splc-doj-extrem…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

“Starting in the 1980s, the SPLC began using informants who had infiltrated various groups.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence does not contain information regarding the SPLC's use of informants specifically starting in the 1980s.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501 (c) (3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. [2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to creating a world where Black and Brown communities are represented and respected by our democracy.
https://www.splcenter.org/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · The Southern Poverty Law Center is facing a serious threat from the Justice Department — and comes at a time when several former and current SPLC employees say the group is already deeply …
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5797490/splc-doj-extrem…

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

“Starting in the 1980s, the SPLC began using informants who had infiltrated various groups.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources state that the SPLC's use of informants dates back to the 1980s.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501 (c) (3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. [2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to creating a world where Black and Brown communities are represented and respected by our democracy.
https://www.splcenter.org/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · The Southern Poverty Law Center is facing a serious threat from the Justice Department — and comes at a time when several former and current SPLC employees say the group is already deeply …
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5797490/splc-doj-extrem…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

“Blanche said in the press conference that the nonprofit never informed law enforcement that it was “paying off the Klu Klux Klan” or other extremist groups.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While Todd Blanche's press conference is mentioned across multiple sources, the specific quote or claim that the SPLC 'never informed law enforcement' is not explicitly corroborated by a second independent source in the provided text.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges on Tuesday.It states that the SPLC sent more than $270,000 to a person who helped to plan, and attended, the deadly white nationalist Unit…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyrkd022ejo

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks at a press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel following the indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center on April 21, 2026.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/southern-poverty-law-center-i…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Acting AG Todd Blanche says the federal indictment of the SPLC on fraud charges is not politically motivated, calling the group's alleged conduct "extraordinarily egregious."
https://www.foxnews.com/media/acting-ag-todd-blanche-says-sp…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

“Blanche said in the press conference that the nonprofit never informed law enforcement that it was “paying off the Klu Klux Klan” or other extremist groups.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While sources confirm Todd Blanche held a press conference and discussed the indictment, none of the provided evidence snippets explicitly contain the quote or claim that the SPLC 'never informed law enforcement' about the payments.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges on Tuesday.It states that the SPLC sent more than $270,000 to a person who helped to plan, and attended, the deadly white nationalist Unit…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyrkd022ejo

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks at a press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel following the indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center on April 21, 2026.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/southern-poverty-law-center-i…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Acting AG Todd Blanche says the federal indictment of the SPLC on fraud charges is not politically motivated, calling the group's alleged conduct "extraordinarily egregious."
https://www.foxnews.com/media/acting-ag-todd-blanche-says-sp…

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

“Several of the informants were also being paid while simultaneously being featured in SPLC publications — including on its public-facing “Extremist File” webpage — as members of the hate groups.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding informants being listed on the 'Extremist File' webpage while being paid.

help

“Several of the informants were also being paid while simultaneously being featured in SPLC publications — including on its public-facing “Extremist File” webpage — as members of the hate groups.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to support the claim that informants were simultaneously featured on the SPLC 'Extremist File' webpage.

help

“Prosecutors alleged in the indictment that the informants, or “field sources,” were also “engaged in the active promotion of racist groups.””

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding the specific allegation that informants were 'engaged in the active promotion of racist groups.'

help

“Prosecutors alleged in the indictment that the informants, or “field sources,” were also “engaged in the active promotion of racist groups.””

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to support the specific allegation that informants were 'engaged in the active promotion of racist groups.'

schedule

“The unidentified field source for the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, for example, allegedly “helped coordinate transportation to the event for several attendees.””

PENDING

schedule

“Blanche added, claiming that investigation preceded the Trump administration and Biden’s DOJ had made a decision “to not pursue” it.”

PENDING

schedule

“FBI Director Kash Patel added that the “widespread, decade-long multi-million dollar fraud” — which stretched from 2014 to 2023 — was concealed through a “banking network,” “shell companies,” and other fictitious entities.”

PENDING

schedule

“The SPLC then “fraudulently raised money by lying to their donor network, thousands of Americans, to go ahead and actually pay the leadership of these supposed violent extremist groups,” Patel noted.”

PENDING

schedule

“The sham entities included a “Center Investigative Agency,” or CIA, “Fox Photography,” “North West Technologies,” “Tech Writers Group” and “Rare Books Warehouse,” which “conducted no actual business,” the indictment stated.”

PENDING

schedule

“The indictment, filed in US District Court for the Middle District of Alabama’s Northern Division, alleged four counts for making “false or misleading statements” about the entities to a federally insured bank on Dec. 10, 2016.”

PENDING

schedule

“It also alleged six counts of wire fraud related to a series of payments totalling $13,905 on April 25, 2023.”

PENDING

schedule

“The 11th count was for conspiracy to commit money laundering.”

PENDING

schedule

“Donors were never “told that some of the donated funds were used for the benefit of the violent extremist groups or that some of the donated funds would be used in the commission of state and federal crimes,” the indictment noted.”

PENDING

eFinder

eFinder

DOJ charges Southern Poverty Law Center with fraud for paying white supremacist groups $3M to ‘stoke racial hatred’

psychologyDetected Techniques

fact_checkFact-Check Results