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Southern Poverty Law Center pleads not guilty in federal fraud case
politico ^ | AP

Posted on 07/08/2026 3:04:26 AM PDT by RandFan

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The Southern Poverty Law Center, best known for monitoring hate groups, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges that it defrauded donors by not disclosing that some of the money would be used to pay informants in extremist organizations.

Attorney Abbe Lowell entered the not guilty plea on behalf of the organization to a superseding indictment that adds details about the charges first announced in April.

The Justice Department has accused the SPLC of funding extremist groups while publicly claiming it was working to dismantle them. The SPLC has denied wrongdoing and said the informant program provided critical intelligence about the work of the groups — information it regularly provided to law enforcement agencies.

The SPLC has accused the Justice Department of carrying out a vindictive prosecution as part of a retribution campaign against President Donald Trump’s perceived political enemies.

The superseding indictment alleges that $4.1 million in donations were used to pay informants inside extremist groups. Prosecutors said some of the money was used for recruiting new members and purchasing Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning ceremonies.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
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Tip of the iceberg with them but good to see some action being taken
1 posted on 07/08/2026 3:04:26 AM PDT by RandFan
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To: RandFan
The Southern Poverty Law Center, best known for monitoring hate groups,

SPLC is the ultimate hate group.

2 posted on 07/08/2026 3:10:11 AM PDT by NJRighty ("It's sick out there and getting sicker" - Bob Grant)
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To: NJRighty
SPLC is the ultimate hate group.

SPLC is the ultimate communist front group working to destroy any organization that works to protect any traditional American family support group.

3 posted on 07/08/2026 3:17:59 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminisheRs the human spirit.)
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To: RandFan

SPLC - EVIL, DISHONEST COLLECTIVE.


4 posted on 07/08/2026 3:23:56 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization? )
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To: NJRighty
The Southern Poverty Law Center, best known for monitoring creating hate groups,


Fixed it
5 posted on 07/08/2026 3:28:17 AM PDT by Skwor
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To: RandFan

Shock

https://c.tenor.com/I1U-LRSBTY8AAAAd/cat-shocked.gif


6 posted on 07/08/2026 3:39:51 AM PDT by combat_boots
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To: RandFan

See Montgomery listed. Is this where the trial is?


7 posted on 07/08/2026 3:47:05 AM PDT by griswold3 (Truth, Beauty and Goodness)
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To: Pontiac

Yes, FOCUS on The Family was definitely a hate group, as was Turning Point USA. Funny that the SPLC didn’t give money to those two, or have officials share a bank account and set up house keeping with members.


8 posted on 07/08/2026 3:48:50 AM PDT by carcraft (Pray for our Country)
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To: Skwor

SPLC motto should be,”keeping hate alive so we can thrive”.


9 posted on 07/08/2026 3:51:37 AM PDT by carcraft (Pray for our Country)
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To: carcraft
Yes, FOCUS on The Family was definitely a hate group

Of course it's a hate group! It says so right in its name!

'Family'

Family is a non-inclusive word.

Family excludes those who aren't family.

Families don't have multiple mommies or multiple daddies.

Families don't include the weird guy next door who likes to touch little kids while he giggles.

10 posted on 07/08/2026 4:23:42 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminisheRs the human spirit.)
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To: RandFan

I wonder if the SPLC ever investigated a reputed rapist with homicidal fantasies and a Nazi tatto.


11 posted on 07/08/2026 4:42:33 AM PDT by muir_redwoods (You choose; a world without dogs or a world without muslims.)
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To: Pontiac

Are they the ultimate there or is the ACLU?


12 posted on 07/08/2026 4:42:52 AM PDT by pas
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To: Skwor

Very good correction:)


13 posted on 07/08/2026 4:44:20 AM PDT by RandFan
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To: griswold3

The case is scheduled to go to trial in October according to the article


14 posted on 07/08/2026 4:48:42 AM PDT by RandFan
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To: pas

IMO the SPLC gets the brass ring hands down.

The ACLU (probably by accident) gets it right once in a while.

I don’t think the SPLC ever gets it right.


15 posted on 07/08/2026 4:50:44 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminisheRs the human spirit.)
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To: RandFan

Good. Throw their commie azzes in jail where they belong.


16 posted on 07/08/2026 5:03:32 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (If two jackasses sneak onto a thoroughbred breeding farm, they'll still throw another jackass.)
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To: All

Who knew?

The tolerant and compassionate Southern Poverty Law Center ........best known
for “monitoring groups” it labels as haters.....pleaded not guilty to federal charges.

The impeccably humanitarian SPLC “denies that it defrauded donors” by not disclosing
that their money would be used illegally......to payoff “informants in extremist organizations.”


17 posted on 07/08/2026 5:09:28 AM PDT by Liz (“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1))
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To: RandFan

Even Politico can’t tidy this one up.


18 posted on 07/08/2026 5:56:43 AM PDT by misterdarcey (Abandon all nuance, ye who enter here.)
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To: RandFan

The discovery in this case is going to be as good as the guilty verdict. Lifting up the rock that the SPLC has lived under for years is going to show how one of the most corrupt liberal NGOs has operated. And its going to be shocking for even the most cynical conservative.


19 posted on 07/08/2026 6:47:09 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: RandFan
The Southern Poverty Law Center, best known for monitoring hate groups.

And, just like the old Soviet Bosses - the SPLC gets to define what "hate" means.

"Hate Groups," according to the SPLC, include:

Moms for Liberty: which the SPLC labeled an "extremist group" in 2022 for allegedly seeking to "undermine public education holistically."

Turning Point USA: (categorized as an "antigovernment" group)

And:

PragerU, Focus on the Family, and the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

And, remember this?: "The SPLC's labeling of the Family Research Council was cited by a terrorist who attempted a mass shooting at the organization in 2012."

The SPLC was not held responsible.

20 posted on 07/08/2026 7:00:50 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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