DOJ charges Southern Poverty Law Center with fraud amid denials from civil rights group

The Hill
by Rebecca Beitsch
April 21, 2026
2 min read

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The Justice Department charged the Southern Poverty Law Center with 11 counts of bank and wire fraud.

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The Justice Department announced an 11-count indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) on Tuesday, including charges of bank and wire fraud. These charges stem from a now-defunct SPLC program that reportedly used paid informants to monitor extremist groups. The indictment includes six counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and one count of conspiracy. This action by the DOJ marks a significant legal challenge against the prominent civil rights organization. The SPLC has denied the allegations.

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The Justice Department announced an 11-count indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center.

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