The Southern Poverty Law Center has been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with wire fraud, false statements and conspiracy to commit money laundering, alleging that the organization secretly funneled more than $3 million in donated funds to people associated with various violent extremist groups.
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed federal grand jury charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center for wire fraud and false statements, prompting criticism from civil liberties advocates and others who argue that the case could have broader implications for nonprofit advocacy groups and constitutional protections.
The Trump administration is targeting immigrant advocacy groups and their hotlines, which provide critical support to vulnerable families, with coordinated political attacks aimed at disrupting their services.