MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced a civil investigation on Monday into the Southern Poverty Law Center’s fundraising practices, following a federal indictment against the organization.
Subpoena Issued
Marshall said he has sent a subpoena to the center seeking information about its donations and payments to informants. He aims 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 stated in a news release.
SPLC Response
The SPLC provided a brief response on Monday. “We have received notice of a subpoena and are currently reviewing,” a spokesperson wrote in an email.
The state investigation follows a criminal indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice, which accused the SPLC 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.”
SPLC Denies Allegations
The SPLC has called the accusation “provably wrong” and stated that the informant program gathered intelligence to help stop attacks and dismantle hate groups. The organization noted that federal officials have long known about the program and that information has been shared with law enforcement.
The SPLC, known for investigating hate groups, has frequently clashed in legal cases with conservative groups, the Trump administration, and Marshall’s office. The center has been a vocal critic of Trump administration policies.
