Southern Poverty Law Center Says It Faces DOJ Criminal Investigation Over Past Use of Paid Informants

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) announced Tuesday that it is the subject of a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Montgomery, Alabama-based civil rights organization faces possible criminal charges stemming from its previous use of paid confidential informants. The Justice Department did not immediately comment on the probe.

The Details

SPLC interim CEO Bryan Fair stated in a video message that the investigation appears focused on the organization's historical use of paid informants to gather intelligence on extremely violent groups. Fair explained that the SPLC previously paid individuals to infiltrate extremist organizations to monitor their activities. According to Fair, the information gathered through this program was frequently shared with local and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.\n\nFair defended the program, noting it was conducted in secrecy to protect the identities and safety of the informants and their families. He argued that the initiative was born out of the necessity of the Civil Rights Movement era, where state-sponsored violence and bombings often went unanswered by the legal system. Fair asserted that the intelligence gathered by informants effectively saved lives.\n\nThe SPLC has since ended its use of paid informants. A spokesperson for the organization noted that the program predates the current leadership and that most individuals involved in the operation are no longer affiliated with the center.\n\nIn his statement, Fair vowed that the SPLC would vigorously defend its staff and its work. He characterized the current investigation as an attempt to dismantle the rights of vulnerable populations, claiming that the federal government has been weaponized against organizations that stand in the breach of civil rights violations.

Context

Founded in 1971, the SPLC rose to prominence through civil litigation against the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups, notably surviving a Klan bombing of its headquarters in 1983. However, the organization has faced increasing scrutiny from conservative critics and government officials in recent years.\n\nIn October 2025, FBI Director Kash Patel severed the FBI's relationship with the SPLC, labeling it a 'partisan smear machine' and criticizing its 'hate map' for defaming mainstream Americans. This followed a December 2025 hearing by the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, which examined the SPLC's influence on federal civil rights policy.\n\nAdditional tension has arisen from the SPLC's designation of Turning Point USA as a hate group. Critics pointed to an SPLC newsletter published one day before the assassination of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, questioning if the organization's analysis contributed to the assassin's motive. The organization is currently led by interim CEO Bryan Fair following the resignation of Margaret Huang in July 2025.

What's Next

The SPLC expects a legal battle as the DOJ proceeds with its investigation. The outcome of this probe could establish legal precedents regarding the use of private informants by non-profit organizations in intelligence gathering.\n\nObservers suggest this investigation is part of a broader pattern under the Trump administration to target political opponents, mirroring other DOJ probes into critics of the administration. This includes the September 2025 executive order designating 'antifa' as a domestic terrorist organization, a move the Brennan Center for Justice suggested likely violates the First Amendment.\n\nThe SPLC has indicated it will not be intimidated into silence, suggesting that the organization will continue its mission despite the threat of criminal charges.