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Southern Poverty Law Center says it faces a Justice Department criminal probe over paid informants
The nonprofit says the probe could bring criminal charges over a now-defunct informant program that shared intelligence with law enforcement.
- On Tuesday, the Southern Poverty Law Center revealed it faces a criminal investigation by the Justice Department, led by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Alabama, examining its past use of paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups.
- CEO Bryan Fair defended the now-defunct program as necessary to monitor violent threats following the 1983 firebombing of the group's offices, stating the organization frequently shared gathered intelligence with local and federal law enforcement.
- Addressing potential criminal charges, Fair said the organization "will vigorously defend ourselves, our staff, and our work," while the Justice Department, scrutinizing nonprofits regarding "domestic terrorism," offered no immediate comment.
- House Republicans previously alleged the group coordinated with President Joe Biden's administration to target Americans' constitutional rights, reflecting sustained conservative criticism calling the center a "partisan smear machine."
- FBI Director Kash Patel severed ties with the group last year, citing its "hate map," as the current inquiry aligns with increased Justice Department investigations into Trump opponents, raising concerns about potential weaponization.
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What to know about the Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is in the spotlight after the civil rights group announced Tuesday that it is the subject of a U.S. Justice Department criminal investigation because of its past use of paid informants. The SPLC was created…
Southern Poverty Law Center says it's being 'targeted' by Trump administration
WASHINGTON — The head of the Southern Poverty Law Center said Tuesday that the civil rights organization was being "targeted" by the Trump administration with a criminal investigation that appeared to focus on the group's use of confidential informants that gathered evidence on "extremely violent groups."Bryan Fair, the interim chief executive of the group, said in a video posted Tuesday that the 55-year-old organization was facing a "serious" t…
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Total News Sources70
Leaning Left32Leaning Right7Center20Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Left
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources lean Left
54% Left
L 54%
C 34%
12%
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