SPLC Pleads Not Guilty in Federal Fraud Case Amid Accusations of Political Retribution
The Southern Poverty Law Center pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges of defrauding donors. The organization is accused of failing to disclose that some donations were used to pay informants within extremist groups. Prosecutors allege $4.1 million in donations funded informants, including KKK members and white nationalists, and purchased materials for hate group activities. The SPLC denies wrongdoing, asserting the informant program provided crucial intelligence to law enforcement and claims the prosecution is politically motivated. A trial is scheduled for October.
John Q. Hosedrinker