{"id":2626164,"date":"2026-07-07T15:45:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/splc-arraigned-on-superseding-charges-of-donor-fraud\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T15:48:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:48:17","slug":"splc-arraigned-on-superseding-charges-of-donor-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/splc-arraigned-on-superseding-charges-of-donor-fraud\/","title":{"rendered":"SPLC arraigned on superseding charges of donor fraud"},"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\">16<\/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-arraigned-on-superseding-charges-of-donor-fraud%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=2626164&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 too federal charges of fraud and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/beijing-warns-nikki-haley-will-end-up-on-ash-heap-of-history-for-china-criticism\/\" title=\"Beijing warns Nikki Haley&#039;s China criticism will lead to her being forgotten in history.\">money laundering related<\/a> to its undercover operations and use of donor funds. The indictment, upgraded after initial charges, alleges the SPLC used donor money to pay operatives who infiltrated and gathered intelligence on right-wing groups, some of which were reportedly losing influence. Prosecutors indicate the SPLC could face up to 30 years in prison and a hefty fine, though as a nonprofit, it is not subject to imprisonment. The defense, led by attorney Abbe Lowell, argued that the SPLC is a nonprofit entity, not a for-profit corporation. During proceedings, Lowell contested DOJ leaks of a draft indictment and discussed trial scheduling, movies to perhaps dismiss parts of the case, and questioned whether charges might be revised further. The government has completed most revelation, and a trial is scheduled beginning October 5, 2026, with ongoing investigations. The case highlights serious allegations against the SPLC regarding misuse of funds and undercover activities.  <\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 again on Tuesday to federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/waste-and-fraud\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"610\">fraud<\/a> and money laundering charges over its paid-informant operations that allegedly involved the undisclosed use of donor funds to finance the group\u2019s undercover activities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On behalf of the SPLC, attorney Abbe Lowell entered a not-guilty plea at Tuesday\u2019s arraignment to all 11 criminal counts of wire fraud, making false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit the concealment of money laundering, as outlined in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.almd.90264\/gov.uscourts.almd.90264.51.0.pdf\">June 2 superseding indictment<\/a> from the Justice Department.<\/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\/4638431\/former-doj-employees-urge-senate-judiciary-reject-todd-blanche-ag-nomination\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Former DOJ employees urge Senate Judiciary to reject Todd Blanche AG nomination<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4638017\/police-testimony-charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Police officer describes chaotic scene after Charlie Kirk killing in key preliminary hearing<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4637243\/israel-high-court-crisis-anarchy\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Israeli constitutional crisis deepens as opposition cries \u2018anarchy,\u2019 president warns noncompliance is \u2018red line\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The revised charging document, filed roughly a month and a half after an Alabama grand jury returned the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/media\/1437146\/dl\">initial April 21 indictment<\/a> against the SPLC, contained the same charges but added new, specific allegations regarding how donor money was used to pay field operatives who were tasked with infiltrating and relaying intelligence about certain right-wing organizations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prosecutors say that the embedded sources, unbeknownst to donors, even promoted these extremist groups, which were <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4545019\/splc-paid-aryan-nations-operatives-bankrupting-neo-nazi-group\/\">largely losing influence<\/a>, to justify the SPLC\u2019s highly lucrative business of fighting bigotry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4540622\/splc-allegedly-spent-million-infiltrating-national-alliance\/\"><strong>SPLC ALLEGEDLY SPENT OVER $1 MILLION INFILTRATING HATE GROUP IT PUBLICLY CLAIMED WAS \u2018ALMOST IRRELEVANT\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the charged offenses, the SPLC faces up to 30 years in federal prison, a $1 million fine, and any applicable order of restitution. U.S. attorney Kevin Davidson, however, noted during the arraignment hearing that the SPLC is \u201ca corporate defendant\u201d and would not be subject to imprisonment as the federal statute stipulates in most fraud cases.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lowell clarified that the SPLC is \u201ca nonprofit defendant,\u201d not a for-profit corporation. Specializing in defending white-collar crimes, Lowell has served as a defense lawyer for many high-profile Democratic figures over the years, including representing New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) in her mortgage fraud case and former first son Hunter Biden at his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-exploits-beaus-death-again-this-time-to-visit-his-widow-before-she-testifies-in-hunters-trial\/\" title=\"Biden Visits Widow Before Her Testimony in Hunter&#039;s ...\">federal gun trial<\/a>. He also represented Jared Kushner, President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> son-in-law, during Trump\u2019s first term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At a status conference immediately following the arraignment, Lowell inquired about whether Magistrate Judge Kelly Pate would allow oral arguments on the SPLC\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.almd.90264\/gov.uscourts.almd.90264.53.0.pdf\">motion to show cause<\/a>, which would require Justice Department officials to answer questions at an evidentiary hearing pertaining to the release of the superseding indictment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the motion, Lowell accused the DOJ of \u201cputting media strategy before the sacrosanct rules on grand jury secrecy\u201d by leaking an unsigned, unstamped <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.almd.90264\/gov.uscourts.almd.90264.53.1.pdf\">Microsoft Word version<\/a> of a draft document to the press, with the subject line \u201cFlagging: Superseding indictment returned by Grand Jury today re SPLC,\u201d before unsealing a legitimate filing of the indictment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Members of the media at the recipient outlets mentioned <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/southern-poverty-law-center-superseding-indictment\/\">in their coverage<\/a> that \u201ca public copy of the superseding indictment was not yet available on the docket\u201d and that the version in circulation was \u201cnot a final signed copy.\u201d According to Lowell, no foreperson\u2019s signature or stamp from the district clerk appeared on the draft distributed by the DOJ\u2019s public affairs office. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pate said that it is up to the court to decide whether to hold oral arguments or simply rule based on the submitted briefs. The federal government has until July 13 to file a written reply to the SPLC\u2019s supplemental brief in support of its motion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The parties also discussed scheduling a potential trial. Pate mentioned that the case should follow the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.almd.90264\/gov.uscourts.almd.90264.44.0.pdf\">original scheduling order<\/a>, saying that jury selection is set to begin on the morning of Oct. 5, 2026, before Judge Emily Marks, a Trump appointee.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe believe the motion [to show cause] has merit and we won\u2019t need a trial date,\u201d Lowell told Pate.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">FILE \u2013 Attorney Abbe Lowell arrives at federal court, June 6, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke, File)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP25231655055648.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attorney Abbe Lowell arrives at federal court, June 6, 2024, in Wilmington, Delaware. (Matt Rourke\/AP Photo, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lowell said that \u201cif we get as far as a trial,\u201d the defense intends to send a jury questionnaire in advance to determine \u201cwho may not even need to show up because of the strong feelings they may have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At another point in the hearing, Lowell asked whether the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"438\">Justice Department<\/a> wants to \u201cchange the charges in any fashion.\u201d Davidson said the investigation is ongoing, \u201cso I\u2019m not sure how to answer that at this time.\u201d He added, \u201cWe\u2019ll go where the evidence and the law takes us.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In response, Lowell lamented that the investigation has been \u201congoing for quite a long time\u201d and urged prosecutors to finalize charges, given the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >trial date tentatively scheduled<\/a> for the fall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt would seem that the government could figure out whether there are any grounds to do anything more in the existing indictment at a date certain,\u201d Lowell said. \u201cSo that we are not, just using a hypothetical, in the middle of September, and the government decides to bring some charges then.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pate said she is not aware of any deadline requiring the government to provide the defense with pending charging information. \u201cWe do have a trial date, and this case is going to trial on that date,\u201d Pate said. \u201cOr at least for that term beginning Oct. 5, as it seems now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4573526\/paxton-investigation-splc-judge-fraud-trial\/\"><strong>PAXTON OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO SPLC AS JUDGE SETS TRIAL FOR FRAUD CASE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lowell asked that the government announce in the \u201cnot-too-distant future\u201d a definitive timeline for when prosecutors expect to complete the discovery process, citing concerns with \u201cstragglers should there be new things discovered.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davidson said the government has turned over all releasable documents at this point and \u201cliberally produced much, much, much more information\u201d to the defense than prosecutors believe they are required to by law. He added that investigators are evaluating information as it comes in and continuing to comply with discovery obligations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SPLC pleads not guilty to fraud and money laundering charges<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2626165,"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":[33651],"tags":[38081,35580,82359,15303,39489],"class_list":["post-2626164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-donor-fraud","tag-legal-charges","tag-nonprofit-litigation","tag-splc","tag-superseding-indictment"],"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\/2626164","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\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2626164"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2626168,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626164\/revisions\/2626168"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2626165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2626164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2626164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2626164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}