MONTGOMERY, AL — The Southern Poverty Law Center says it is the subject of a federal criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, potentially tied to its past use of paid informants to monitor extremist groups.
In a public statement, interim CEO Bryan Fair said the organization believes the probe relates to intelligence-gathering efforts involving groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. He noted that information obtained from informants was historically shared with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, as part of efforts to address potential threats.
Fair said the organization no longer uses paid informants but did not specify when the practice ended. He also indicated that many individuals involved in the earlier program are no longer affiliated with the group.
The SPLC, founded in 1971, built its national profile through litigation against extremist organizations, often resulting in financial judgments that weakened those groups. Its work has expanded over time to include voting rights, immigration, and civil rights advocacy.
Fair suggested the investigation may be politically motivated, citing longstanding criticism of the SPLC from conservative figures. The Department of Justice has not publicly confirmed details of the probe.
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