Southern Poverty Law Center says it is under Justice Department investigation
The nonprofit on Tuesday said it is 'the latest organization targeted by this administration.'
www.politico.comHere’s the latest high-level update on the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) based on recent reporting.
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The SPLC says it is under a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, with reports indicating possible charges related to its past use of paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups. The organization has described the action as part of a broader pattern of government action against civil rights groups. [news coverage from Politico, AP/Associated Press, and other outlets, April 2026]
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The DOJ and U.S. Attorney’s Office have not publicly commented in detail, and the precise scope of the investigation has not been fully disclosed. SPLC leadership has pledged to vigorously defend the organization and its staff. [AP and Guardian coverage, April 2026]
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The SPLC, founded in 1971 and based in Montgomery, Alabama, is known for civil rights litigation, hate-group tracking, and voting and prisoner-rights work, in addition to its historical role in monitoring extremist activity. [background reporting on SPLC’s mission and history, including earlier profiles]
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Reactions to the news have been mixed in the political sphere, with some Republicans and conservative outlets criticizing the SPLC as partisan, while SPLC supporters emphasize its civil-rights advocacy and watchdog role. [coverage across multiple outlets, April 2026]
If you’d like, I can:
- Pull the most authoritative statements from the SPLC’s own press center and the DOJ for precise wording and dates.
- Summarize what is publicly known about the scope and potential charges, as they become available.
- Provide a timeline of events as new developments are released, with direct citations.