AG Marshall announces civil probe of Southern Poverty Law Center. May 12, 2026 - News MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama's attorney general announced a civil investigation Monday into the Southern Poverty Law Center's fundraising practices in the wake of a federal indictment against the organization. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said he has sent a subpoena to the center seeking information about its donations and payments to informants. He said he is seeking to determine if the organization violated state laws related to charitable organizations or deceptive trade practices. "We look forward to learning more about the inner workings of an organization that we have long believed was rotten, but until recently, has been impervious," Marshall said in a news release. The SPLC gave a brief response Monday. "We have received notice of a subpoena and are currently reviewing," a spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement. The state investigation comes after the U.S. Department of Justice announced a criminal indictment against the organization, accusing it of fraud by using funds to pay informants inside extremist groups. Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, accused the group of "manufacturing racism to justify its existence." The SPLC has called the accusation "provably wrong" and said the informant program gathered intelligence to help stop attacks and dismantle the efforts of hate groups. The organization said federal officials have long known about the program and that information has been shared with law enforcement. The organization, best known for investigating hate groups, has often clashed in legal cases with conservative groups, President Donald Trump's administration and Marshall's office. The center has been a frequent critic of Trump administration policies.

FL Attorney General investigates SPLC for fraud against Floridians. With credible allegations of deceptive fundraising and undisclosed 'informant' programs, the Southern Poverty Law Center warrants thorough investigation and scrutiny; TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has launched a civil investigation into the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to determine whether recent allegations of "deceptive and unfair practices" linked to its fundraising and charitable solicitations have taken place in the state. AG Uthmeier issued an investigative subpoena under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act requiring the SPLC turn over "documents and evidence" by May 25. With these records, investigators seek to uncover how donations from Floridians were used and whether residents were informed of donations potentially going to the very extremist organizations the SPLC claims to fight against. The investigation follows the SPLC's 11-count indictment from a federal grand jury in April 2026 for its alleged decade-long fraud and money-laundering scheme involving the covert payment of individuals tied to extremist organizations, such as the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, and National Socialist Party of America (American Nazi Party). According to the indictment, SPLC donors were misled into believing their contributions were being used solely to dismantle these groups, yet a portion of the funds was instead diverted to members or leaders within them. The SPLC later claimed that these funds went toward paid "informants" inside these organizations. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that instead of dismantling these groups, the SPLC was "manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose." "The SPLC raises millions in charitable donations every year, while allegedly paying members and leaders within the very groups it purports to fight," stated AG Uthmeier. "SPLC appears to be running a deceptive organization that pays informants to manufacture racism on its behalf. If these allegations are true, there will be consequences." The subpoena requires the SPLC hand over a wide range of documents dating back to 2014, including financial donation records, budget allocations and internal communications related to "informants," and marketing materials used to solicit donations from Florida residents. The subpoena also requires documents and communications regarding the SPLC's "Extremist Files," "hate map," "Intelligence Project," and "No Blood Money Campaign." Liberty Counsel's Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "With credible allegations of deceptive fundraising and undisclosed 'informant' programs, the Southern Poverty Law Center warrants thorough investigation and scrutiny. Any organization that purports its mission as confronting extremist activities yet engages in questionable financial activities with those extremist organizations has crossed a line and must be held accountable. The SPLC has falsely labeled Liberty Counsel and many other Christian conservative groups as 'hate groups' in a baseless, reckless attempt to damage the reputations of those with which it merely disagrees. Now, this state investigation from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier further alleging deceptive practices by the SPLC is essential to restoring public trust and informed decision-making by charitable donors." Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.

Attorney General James Uthmeier launches civil investigation, subpoenas SPLC over deceptive fundraising practices. Release Date May 4, 2026 Communications (850) 245-0150 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a civil investigation into the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for alleged deceptive and unfair practices related to charitable solicitations and fundraising. The investigative subpoena commands SPLC to produce all documents and evidence by May 25, 2026. "The SPLC raises millions in charitable donations every year, while allegedly paying members and leaders within the very groups it purports to fight," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "SPLC appears to be running a deceptive organization that pays informants to manufacture racism on its behalf. If these allegations are true, there will be consequences." The subpoena demands the SPLC produce the following information: 1. Documents disclosing to Florida donors or prospective Florida donors SPLC's use or proposed use of Informants. 2. Exemplar documents used to market or advertise SPLC's mission, fundraising objectives, and services to prospective Florida donors, including the date each Document was created and length of time the Document was used for SPLC's marketing or advertising. 3. Documents identifying all names, aliases, or DBAs SPLC used when soliciting charitable contributions, or which have been used by third parties when soliciting on SPLC's behalf. 4. Documents sufficient to show any changes on SPLC's website or in other Communications regarding SPLC's solicitation of donations and the date any changes were made. 5. Documents sufficient to show changes on SPLC's website or in other Communications relating to where or how proceeds of donations will be used or distributed. 6. Documents sufficient to show changes on SPLC's website or in other Communications regarding SPLC's use of Informants. 7. Documents sufficient to identify all websites SPLC has used to solicit donations. 8. Documents sufficient to show the annual donations SPLC received from donors in the State of Florida. 9. Documents sufficient to show SPLC's annual disbursements of donated funds, directly or indirectly, to Informants. 10. Documents sufficient to show SPLC's policies and procedures for requesting, approving, or paying funds related to SPLC's Informant program. 11. Documents sufficient to reflect the percentage of SPLC's annual budget allocated to Informant-related costs. 12. Documents sufficient to show any donation, payment, or other financial contribution paid to any group or individual appearing on SPLC's "Extremist Files", or appearing on any similar list, map, or directory maintained by SPLC, including, but not limited to, those identified on SPLC's "hate map." 13. Internal Communications related to the disclosure or non-disclosure of the use of Informants. 14. Exemplars of all Communications with Florida donors related to SPLC's use of donor funds. 15. Documents required to obtain and maintain SPLC's 501(c)(3) status or other licenses or certifications as a non-profit or charitable entity. 16. Documents sufficient to identify all Florida addresses used by the Company, including, but not limited to, addresses where the Company actually operated and addresses where the Company received correspondence. 17. Documents containing representations SPLC made (or information you provided) to financial institutions, technology companies, banks, credit card processors, financial infrastructure companies, and other businesses regarding SPLC's "Extremists Files", "hate map", the Change the Terms coalition, SPLC's Intelligence Project, and the No Blood Money Campaign, including, but not limited to, all documents relating to any meeting, Communication, or conversation in which such representations were made. The full subpoena can be viewed here. [email protected]