{"id":2600131,"date":"2026-05-07T20:05:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T00:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/splc-pleads-not-guilty-as-ceo-vows-to-fight-fraud-charges\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T20:08:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T00:08:37","slug":"splc-pleads-not-guilty-as-ceo-vows-to-fight-fraud-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/splc-pleads-not-guilty-as-ceo-vows-to-fight-fraud-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"SPLC pleads not guilty as CEO vows to fight fraud charges"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsplc-pleads-not-guilty-as-ceo-vows-to-fight-fraud-charges%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2600131&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) pleaded not guilty in federal court in Montgomery, Alabama, to charges alleging federal fraud and money laundering tied to the nonprofit\u2019s use of paid informants inside extremist groups. Prosecutors saeid the SPLC improperly used more than $3 million in donor funds between 2014 and 2023 to pay informants connected to groups including Ku Klux Klan and Aryan Nations affiliates, as well as people involved in the 2017 \u201cUnite the Right\u201d rally. The indictment includes wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-president-trump-gives-pardons-to-73-individuals-and-commutes-another-70-sentences-steve-bannon-is-included\/\" title=\"BREAKING: President Trump Gives Pardons to 73 Individuals and Commutes Another 70 Sentences \u2013 Steve Bannon Is Included\">commit money laundering<\/a>, and prosecutors allege the SPLC misled donors about how contributions were being used.<\/p>\n<p>SPLC interim President and CEO Bryan Fair called the charges \u201cprovably wrong,\u201d arguing the informant program helped prevent threats and violence and provided intelligence to stop extremist activity. The organization has denied wrongdoing and is pursuing access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pollak-in-contempt-votes-democrat-house-shows-it-is-beneath-contempt\/\" title=\"Pollak: In Contempt Votes, Democrat House Shows It Is Beneath Contempt\">grand jury materials<\/a>, contending that acting U.S. Attorney general Todd Blanche made inaccurate statements to grand jurors that mirror remarks Blanche later made publicly about whether the DOJ received information from the SPLC.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson rejected claims that the prosecution is politically motivated, and cited filings responding to the SPLC\u2019s arguments-emphasizing that the government sees no basis to grant the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >requested grand jury transcript materials<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/southern-poverty-law-center\/\">Southern Poverty Law Center<\/a> pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal fraud and money laundering charges tied to its use of paid informants within extremist groups, with the organization vowing to aggressively fight the case.<\/p>\n<p>The SPLC was arraigned Thursday afternoon in federal court in Montgomery, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alabama\/\">Alabama<\/a>, where federal prosecutors accused the group of improperly using more than $3 million in donor funds to pay informants connected to organizations including the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ku-klux-klan\/page\/13\/\">Ku Klux Klan<\/a>, Aryan Nations affiliates, and individuals who helped organize the 2017 \u201cUnite the Right\u201d rally in Charlottesville, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4559756\/fox-news-additional-discovery-smartmatic-case\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Fox News granted additional discovery in Smartmatic voting machine case<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4559200\/lawyer-handling-key-trump-litigation-depart-doj\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Lawyer handling key Trump litigation to depart DOJ later this month<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4559238\/kash-patel-feud-atlantic-coverage-what-to-know\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Kash Patel feuds with the Atlantic over \u2018party boy\u2019 coverage: What to know<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel next to him, at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on April 21, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Federal prosecutors allege the SPLC paid at least $3 million between 2014 and 2023 to informants tied to extremist organizations while misleading donors about how contributions were being used. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/media\/1437146\/dl\">charges<\/a> include six counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Following the hearing, SPLC interim President and CEO Bryan Fair called the charges \u201cprovably wrong\u201d and defended the organization\u2019s informant program as a lifesaving effort that helped prevent violence and gather intelligence on extremist activity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur informant program was successful in accomplishing its purposes: Threats and attacks were prevented, criminal activity was stopped, and information was gathered to dismantle the efforts of hate and extremist groups,\u201d Fair said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.splcenter.org\/presscenter\/splc-denies-charges-vows-fight-court\/\">statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Fair also said the SPLC would continue \u201cto fight white supremacy and various forms of injustice\u201d despite the prosecution accusing them of misusing donor funds by funneling them to certain hate groups and organizations.<\/p>\n<p>The indictment, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4538115\/southern-poverty-law-center-fraud-indicted\/\">announced last month<\/a> by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Department of Justice<\/a>, marked a major escalation in the Trump administration\u2019s conflict with the Alabama-based nonprofit organization, which conservatives have long criticized over its labeling of certain right-leaning organizations as extremist groups.<\/p>\n<p>The SPLC has denied wrongdoing and recently <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.splcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/us-splc-motion-government-statements.pdf\">filed<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.splcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/us-splc-motion-disclosure-grand-jury-transcript.pdf\">motions<\/a> seeking access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-probing-jpmorgan-over-alleged-debanking-of-trump-media\/\" title=\"Florida probing JPMorgan over alleged debanking of Trump Media\">grand jury materials tied<\/a> to the case. The organization argued it should know whether acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a> made inaccurate statements to grand jurors similar to remarks they accuse him of later making publicly about the SPLC\u2019s relationship with law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>Blanche was accused by the organization of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sidney-powell-is-an-american-legal-giant\/\" title=\"Sidney Powell Is an American Legal Giant\">making false statements<\/a> after he claimed on Fox News\u2019s <em>The Ingraham Angle <\/em>that the DOJ did not possess information showing that the SPLC \u201cShared what they learned with law enforcement,\u201d while the group has maintained their informants have helped the government arrest violent hate purveyors.<\/p>\n<p>In a subsequent Fox News interview on April 26, Blanche acknowledged that the SPLC has historically shared information with law enforcement agencies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s well documented, and there\u2019s no dispute there,\u201d Blanche said. \u201cThey aren\u2019t charged with any of that conduct,\u201d he said, drawing a distinction <\/p>\n<p>U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson, who is handling the case, rejected the SPLC\u2019s claims Thursday that the case was politically motivated.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4540622\/splc-allegedly-spent-million-infiltrating-national-alliance\/\">SPLC SPENT OVER $1 MILLION INFILTRATING HATE GROUP IT PUBLICLY CLAIMED WAS \u2018ALMOST IRRELEVANT\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere was nothing vindictive about this prosecution,\u201d Davidson told reporters. <\/p>\n<p>The U.S. attorney also submitted a filing Tuesday noting that Blanche\u2019s second statement to the media addressed the SPLC\u2019s concerns and false statements allegations, arguing that the SPLC\u2019s motion seeking grand jury transcripts should be rejected. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SPLC pleaded not guilty to federal fraud and money laundering<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2600133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26111789481984.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[57414,32285,79296,15303],"class_list":["post-2600131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-fraud-charges","tag-legal-case","tag-pleaded-not-guilty","tag-splc"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26111789481984.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2600131"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2600136,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600131\/revisions\/2600136"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2600133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2600131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2600131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2600131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}