President Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) after his Department of Justice (DOJ) charged the civil rights organization with fraud, branding it “one of the greatest political scams in American History.”
DOJ Indictment Alleges Concealment of Payments
The SPLC, renowned for its work combating domestic extremism, faces an 11-count indictment alleging it concealed payments of at least $3 million to informants who infiltrated right-wing hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan. The charges were announced by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel, who accused the nonprofit of deceiving donors, banks, and federal regulators through “sham” accounts and “fictitious companies.”
“The SPLC is a nonprofit entity that purports to fight white supremacist and racist hatred,” Blanche said at a press conference. “The SPLC was not dismantling these groups. It was instead manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose by paying sources to stoke racial hatred.” Patel added, “Money never lies. And they got caught.”
Trump's Reaction on Truth Social
Trump took to Truth Social late Thursday, writing: “The Southern Poverty Law Center, one of the greatest political scams in American History, has been charged with FRAUD. This is another Democrat Hoax, along with Act Blue, and many others. If it is true, the 2020 Presidential Election should be permanently wiped from the books and be of no further force or effect!”
The president’s remarks tie the SPLC case to his long-standing claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him, a narrative he continues to push despite numerous legal defeats and the January 6 Capitol riot.
SPLC Responds
SPLC CEO Bryan Fair vehemently denied the allegations, telling The Independent: “We are outraged by the false allegations levied against SPLC – an organization that for 55 years has stood as a beacon of hope fighting white supremacy and various forms of injustice.” In a video statement, Fair emphasized that the operatives in question “risked their lives to infiltrate and inform on the activities of our nation’s most radical and violent extremist groups,” crediting them with “saving lives.” He also accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the federal government to dismantle civil rights.
Context of Trump's Election Claims
Trump’s latest outburst comes days after FBI Director Kash Patel claimed to have new “evidence” supporting the president’s election fraud narrative. Patel told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures: “We have the information that backs President Trump’s claim… Stay tuned this week. You might see a thing or two.” Despite losing numerous court cases and facing a second impeachment after the January 6 attack, Trump remains adamant that President Joe Biden’s victory was fraudulent.
