The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has called for a federal court to consider sanctioning the Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations that the agency shared a draft version of an indictment with the media before it was officially filed in court. The civil rights group contends that this action prioritised media strategy over the strict rules governing grand jury secrecy.
Background of the Case
On Tuesday, the DOJ filed a superseding indictment in an Alabama court against the SPLC, accusing the nonprofit of fraud related to its paid informant program. However, the SPLC claims that journalists received a draft version of the indictment before it was signed, stamped, or made publicly available on the court docket.
In a filing on Wednesday, the SPLC argued: “In decades of collective practice, including serving as prosecutors at DOJ, none of the SPLC’s counsel has ever seen anything remotely like what DOJ did.” The group asserts that the DOJ’s actions undermine the integrity of the legal process.
Journalist's Confusion
The SPLC’s filing includes a message from a confused journalist who received an early copy of the indictment. The reporter wrote: “It’s a little confusing, I now realize we were sent this hours ago from DOJ but there is no stamp on it and its not posted on the docket yet.” The SPLC alleges that the draft version differs from the final indictment filed on Tuesday.
The Independent has contacted the DOJ for comment on the matter.
Request for Hearing
The SPLC has requested a hearing where a judge could decide on potential sanctions against the government. The group was initially indicted in April on charges of misleading donors and conspiring to commit money laundering to support a program that paid informants within extremist groups.
Last month, the SPLC moved to dismiss the case, arguing it is part of a “vindictive” revenge campaign by the Trump administration over the organisation’s past claims about MAGA figures’ ties to extremism and hate groups. The new indictment does not add new charges, but the DOJ alleges the SPLC funnelled approximately $4 million to members of organisations such as the KKK and Aryan Nations between 2010 and 2023.
The DOJ claims the money was used to help inside sources recruit new members, purchase materials for cross burnings, and host extremist rallies. The SPLC insists the allegations are meritless.
“The SPLC did not lie to its donors, it did not mislead banks it did business with, and its informant program prevented violence and saved lives,” attorney Abbe Lowell told Bloomberg Law this week.
