The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) says it is facing a Justice Department investigation that could lead to criminal charges, tied to its previous use of paid informants to monitor violent extremist groups.
In a statement released Tuesday, interim CEO Bryan Fair said the organization believes the inquiry centers on how it once compensated confidential sources to gather intelligence. Fair in a video posted to YouTube: “although we don’t know all the details, the focus appears to be on the SPLC’s prior use of paid confidential informants to gather credible intelligence on extremely violent groups. This use of informants was necessary because we are no stranger to threats of violence. In 1983, our offices were firebombed, and in the years since, there have been countless credible threats against our staff.”
Fair defended the practice, explaining that informants were used to track credible threats and protect both staff and the public. He noted that the organization frequently shared information with law enforcement, including the FBI, while keeping the identities of informants confidential for safety reasons. SPLC no longer uses paid informants but continues to emphasize their protection, he added.
Highlighting the group’s history, Fair pointed to past violence directed at the organization — including a 1983 firebombing — and said such risks made intelligence-gathering necessary. “There is no question that what we learned from informants saved lives,” he said.
Founded in 1971 in Montgomery, Alabama, the SPLC is a nonprofit known for tracking hate groups and pursuing civil litigation against white supremacist organizations. Over the years, it has drawn criticism from Republicans and conservative groups, who argue it unfairly labels right-leaning organizations as extremist.
Fair suggested the investigation reflects broader political targeting. “We are therefore unsurprised to be the latest organization targeted by this administration. They have made no secret of who they want to protect and who they want to destroy,” he said. He also made clear the organization plans to push back, stating, “We will not be intimidated into silence or contrition, and we will not abandon our mission or the communities we serve.”
The probe is reportedly being handled by federal prosecutors in Alabama and could further intensify ongoing political disputes surrounding the SPLC’s work and its relationship with law enforcement. The Justice Department has not publicly commented on the matter.
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