Southern Poverty Law Center indicted on charges that it fraudulently paid informants in extremist groups – USA News 23 April 2026

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging the civil rights organization has engaged in fina

Date: April 23, 2026 | Source: NBC News | Category: USA News
Overview
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging the civil rights organization has engaged in financial crimes.
Key Details
WASHINGTON — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday announced an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging the civil rights organization has engaged in financial crimes.
Blanche said at a news conference that the Justice Department’s investigation found the organization had been “manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose by paying sources to stoke racial hatred,” and then hiding those payments.
The 11-count indictment from a federal grand jury consists of six counts of wire fraud, four counts of false statements to a federally insured bank and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
“The Southern Poverty Law Center’s ('SPLC') stated mission included the dismantling of white supremacy and confronting hate across the country. However, unbeknownst to donors, some of their donated money was being used to fund the leaders and organizers of racist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, the Aryan Nation, and the National Alliance,” the indictment alleges.
The indictment also alleges that “between 2014 and 2023, SPLC secretly funneled more than $3 million” to “field sources” affiliated with groups including the Ku Klux Klan, the National Socialist Movement and the American Front.
FBI Director Kash Patel added at the news conference that the SPLC attempted to hide payments by using shell companies.
“In order to covertly pay its field sources, the SPLC opened bank accounts connected to a series of fictitious entities,” the 14-page indictment alleges.
Blanche said Tuesday that the investigation has “been going on for a long time,” adding that it was “shut down” during the Biden administration before being revived during President Donald Trump’s second term.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- When was this news published?
- April 23, 2026
- What is this news about?
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging the civil rights organization has engaged in financial crimes.
- Which exams cover this topic?
- UPSC, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, Railway RRB, IBPS, SBI PO, and all State PSC exams.
- Who reported this news?
- NBC News
Conclusion
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Source: NBC News
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