The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has asked a federal court to consider sanctions against the Department of Justice (DOJ) after a draft indictment in its case was allegedly shared with the media before being officially filed.
On Tuesday, the DOJ filed a superseding indictment against the civil rights group in an Alabama court, accusing it of fraud related to its paid informant programme. However, the SPLC claims that journalists received a draft version of the indictment before it was signed, stamped, or publicly docketed.
In a filing on Wednesday, the SPLC argued that the DOJ was “putting media strategy before the sacrosanct rules on grand jury secrecy.” The group recounted receiving a message from a confused reporter who had been sent an early copy, noting that it differed from the final version filed in court.
The SPLC has requested a hearing where a judge could decide on sanctions against the government. The group was first indicted in April on allegations of misleading donors and money laundering to support its informant programme. It has previously moved to dismiss the case, calling it a “vindictive” campaign by the Trump administration.
The new indictment does not add new charges, but the DOJ alleges the SPLC funneled about $4 million to members of extremist groups between 2010 and 2023. The SPLC maintains it did not lie to donors and that its programme prevented violence and saved lives.
