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Radical activist groups circle wagons around Southern Poverty Law Center amid federal charges
DOJ charges SPLC with fraud, alleges millions funneled to extremists
The Department of Justice charges the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) with fraud, accusing the organization of funneling over $3 million to various extremist groups. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel detailed the accusations, highlighting payments to KKK members and Aryan Nations affiliates. GW University Law Professor Jonathan Turley adds that an earlier probe into the SPLC was mysteriously closed by the Biden administration.
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Left-wing nonprofits are rallying behind the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as the self-described «beacon of hope» for «fighting white supremacy» faces federal fraud charges.
In a blog post written by National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Senior Policy Advisor Mel Wilson, Wilson said, «it is important that we stand with and support The Southern Poverty Law Center until the legal travails are complete — with full confidence that SPLC will be vindicated.»
Below her commentary, Wilson listed a number of «coalition members» that are standing with SPLC and are a part of «The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.»
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, left, and SPLC interim President and CEO Bryan Fair are shown in a split image as the Justice Department pursues charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images; USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images)
The list included more than one hundred non-profit organizations.
SPLC INDICTMENT BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR BESSENT’S TREASURY TO PROBE PARTISAN NONPROFITS
Separately, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a press release defending SPLC, saying that it stands with the nonprofit, and accusing the Department of Justice of «targeting» the organization.
«This reported federal targeting of SPLC appears to be a transparently political attack on the rule of law meant to undermine the vital role civil rights groups play in countering hate groups. This is unacceptable and must not stand,» CAIR’s statement read.
«We encourage all Americans and elected officials to stand in solidarity with the SPLC and all other organizations dedicated to the protection of civil rights,» the statement continued.
BLACK CHURCH GROUP RETRACTS ‘INAPPROPRIATE’ CALL FOR AL SHARPTON’S SUSPENSION OVER DONATIONS FROM HARRIS CAMP
CAIR was named a co-conspirator during The Holy Land Foundation (HLF) trial from 2007-2008, where five members of the HLF were convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization, providing material support, money laundering and tax fraud after allegations that HLF funneled $12.4 million to Hamas in the early 2000s.
Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, leads a press conference with CAIR California leaders amid calls from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith for an IRS investigation into the group’s tax-exempt status. (Leonard Ortiz/Digital First Media/Orange County Register/Getty Images)
While CAIR never faced charges and was only named by prosecutors during the trial, the FBI cut ties with the nonprofit following the case.
SEC. NOEM SAYS HOMELAND SECURITY WILL FREEZE GRANTS TO NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and IRS CEO Frank Bisignano referring CAIR-California for IRS review. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke to reporters following a Senate Republican luncheon. (Al Drago/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to NASW but did not receive a response.
Federal authorities announced earlier this week that the Southern Poverty Law Center, known for civil rights litigation and racial justice, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly funneling millions to members of violent extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations and the National Socialist Party of America (American Nazi Party).
FAR-LEFT AGITATOR WHO ORGANIZED MN CHURCH STORMING RAKED IN OVER $1 MILLION FROM ANTI-POVERTY NONPROFIT
According to the SPLC’s Form 990 filing with the IRS, the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization posted roughly $129 million in total revenue in fiscal year 2024 with nearly $800 million in total assets.
The organization says that the money was for informants to report back to SPLC and provide information about the groups and their inner workings.
The indictment said that one alleged informant, who was paid $270,000, shared «racist social media posts» under SPLC supervision, and that the nonprofit «helped organize transportation to events» during the deadly 2017 «Unite the Right» event in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Neo Nazis, Alt-Right, and White Supremacists take part a the night before the ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, VA, white supremacists march with tiki torchs through the University of Virginia campus. (Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
EX-NONPROFIT BOSS ALLEGEDLY SWIPED $1.2M MEANT FOR HOMELESS PROGRAMS TO FUND LAVISH LIFESTYLE, DA SAYS
«These individuals risked their lives to infiltrate and inform on the activities of our nation’s most radical and violent extremist groups,» SPLC Interim President and CEO Bryan Fair said in a video statement. «When we began working with informants, we were living in the shadow of the height of the civil rights movement, which had seen bombings at churches, state-sponsored violence against demonstrators, and the murders of activists that went unanswered by the justice system.»
In 1994, an investigative series by the Montgomery Advertiser examined the financials of SPLC at the time, finding that the founder was heavily focused on fundraising for the nonprofit, running the organization like a business or corporation. It also found that the salaries of SPLC were high, and that the nonprofit raised significantly more money than it spent.
The Montgomery Advertiser was a finalist for the 1995 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Journalism due to the series on SPLC.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) building seen in March 2020 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Barry Lewis/InPictures via Getty Images)
SPLC co-founder Joe Levin rejected the paper’s claims at the time.
DOJ SAYS SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER FUNNELED $3M+ TO WHITE SUPREMACIST AND EXTREMIST GROUPS
Margaret Huang, who served as the CEO of the nonprofit until her resignation last summer, made $522,000 a year as reported by Charity Watch, which gave SPLC an «F» rating in May 2025 «due to it having six years’ worth of available assets in reserve.»
The indictments also raise questions about whether SPLC donors were misled on how their money was being spent, including payments made to members of the KKK and other extremist groups.
«The SPLC indictment is legally valid, well-pleaded, and built to survive motion practice, former federal prosecutor and legal expert Andrew Cherkasky told Fox News Digital. «The wire fraud counts rest on specific, quoted solicitations telling donors their money would be used to ‘dismantle’ violent extremist groups, paired with the material omission that more than three million dollars flowed to the leaders, fundraisers, and organizers of those very same groups.»
FBI Director Kash Patel speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington on April 21, 2026. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
OVERSIGHT DEMANDS DOJ ANSWERS ON FOREIGN FUNDING OF AGITATOR GROUPS AS IRAN, ANTI-ICE PROTESTS CONTINUE
Cherkasky noted that paying informants is not illegal, and that journalists, watchdog groups and the government regularly use them. But he noted «a nonprofit is criminally liable for the acts of its agents committed within the scope of their duties and for the organization’s benefit.»
«A high-level SPLC employee coordinated payment for documents stolen by a paid source who twice burglarized an extremist group’s headquarters, and a different source was paid six thousand dollars to falsely confess to the theft,» Cherkasky explained. «If proven, that is sponsored criminal conduct directed from inside the organization, and it carries institutional exposure that extends beyond the criminal counts to potential loss of tax-exempt status, civil liability to victims, and fiduciary exposure for directors and officers.»
FBI Director Kash Patel said Tuesday that SPLC was not honest or transparent with its donors.
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«They lied to their donors, vowing to dismantle violent extremist groups, and actually turned around and paid the leaders of these very extremist groups — even utilizing the funds to have these groups facilitate the commission of state and federal crimes,» Patel said. «That is illegal — and this is an ongoing investigation against all individuals involved.»
Fox News Digital reached out to SPLC, but did not receive a response.
hate crime, fbi, law, investigations, fund raising
INTERNACIONAL
WATCH: CENTCOM chief unloads after Dem asks ‘how many more Americans’ must die in Iran war
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Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper sharply rebuked Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton during a tense House Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday after the Massachusetts Democrat questioned «how many more Americans» would die because of what he called a failed Iran strategy.
«It doesn’t seem to be going well,» Moulton, D-Mass., said of the Iran war. «And I would like to know how many more Americans we have to ask to die for this mistake.»
«I think it’s an entirely inappropriate statement from you, sir,» Cooper responded.
Moulton shot back: «It’s not a statement, it’s a question.»
TRUMP’S IRAN STRATEGY SHOWCASES ‘DOCTRINE OF UNPREDICTABILITY’ AMID STRIKE THREATS AND SUDDEN PAUSE
Fourteen U.S. service members have died in combat since the U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury Feb. 28.
«I think it’s an entirely inappropriate statement from you, sir,» Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper responded. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper sharply rebuked Rep. Seth Moulton during a tense House Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday after the Massachusetts Democrat questioned «how many more Americans» would die because of what he called a failed Iran strategy. (Win McNamee/Getty Images:Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Moulton, a Marine Corps Iraq War veteran and frequent critic of the Trump administration’s Iran strategy, pressed Cooper repeatedly on what he described as the widening consequences of the conflict, including instability in the Strait of Hormuz, rising oil prices and reports that Iran had rebuilt parts of its missile infrastructure.
Cooper pushed back on several of the claims, calling reports that Iran had reconstituted key missile sites «inaccurate» and repeatedly emphasizing that U.S. forces had achieved their assigned military objectives.
The hearing came just after Trump said he directed the military to pause planned operations against Iran for Tuesday at the request of Gulf allies who wanted negotiations with Tehran to continue. The U.S. has been adhering to a ceasefire since April 7.
Gulf leaders asked Trump to pause strikes because «serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond,» he wrote on Truth Social Monday.
«This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!» he said.
Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a Marine Corps Iraq War veteran and frequent critic of the Trump administration’s Iran strategy, pressed Cooper repeatedly on what he described as the widening consequences of the conflict. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
DEMS SIDESTEP PAST ‘REFUSE ILLEGAL ORDERS’ DEMANDS AS THEY CHALLENGE TRUMP’S IRAN WAR AUTHORITY
The confrontation capped hours of contentious exchanges in which Democrats repeatedly pressed Cooper and Pentagon officials on whether the administration had a viable strategy beyond military strikes, whether ongoing operations complied with the War Powers Resolution and whether the conflict was making the United States less secure despite major battlefield gains against Iran.
Democrats also repeatedly challenged the administration over whether ongoing operations complied with the War Powers Resolution, arguing the continued blockade of Iranian ports and military exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz amounted to active hostilities.
Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., pressed Cooper over continued military operations in the region, noting U.S. forces had fired on Iranian tankers and exchanged fire with Iranian forces even after the administration notified Congress that hostilities had ended.
The U.S. military has been enforcing a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, even during the ceasefire. (U.S. Central Command)
«The fact of the matter is that hostilities continue,» Garamendi said, accusing the administration of disregarding Congress and the Constitution.
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Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., similarly argued that the blockade itself constituted «an act of war,» while several Democrats questioned whether the administration planned to seek congressional authorization for any future escalation.
Republicans on the panel, meanwhile, defended the campaign as a historic military success that dramatically weakened Iran’s ability to threaten the United States and its allies.
Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said U.S. operations had «rolled back 40 years of Iranian military investment» and argued the campaign had made both the United States and its allies safer.
Cooper later testified that Iran was «significantly less capable» than before the strikes and said U.S. military action had «derailed Iran’s strategy» across its nuclear, missile and proxy networks.
congress, democrats, pentagon, war with iran, republicans
INTERNACIONAL
Arrestan a 60 delincuentes sexuales en EEUU por usar Facebook, Instagram y Snapchat para delinquir; varios tenían material de abuso infantil
Luisiana fue el escenario de una operación coordinada que resultó en la detención de sesenta personas registradas como delincuentes sexuales, tras descubrirse múltiples nuevas violaciones legales relacionadas con el empleo de redes sociales y actividades ilícitas en línea durante los últimos dos meses. El accionar, que afectó a individuos con antecedentes penales, fue anunciado oficialmente el lunes 18 de mayo, según la Oficina de la Fiscal General de Luisiana (OAG, entidad estatal responsable de la persecución criminal). Las autoridades indicaron que la dimensión del operativo responde al aumento de casos de reincidencia en delitos sexuales con impacto en menores y al uso no autorizado de plataformas digitales.
Según la Oficina de la Fiscal General de Luisiana (OAG, entidad estatal responsable de la persecución criminal), la acción denominada Operation Restricted Domain fue encabezada por la Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) y contó con el apoyo de la ICAC Task Force y la Cyber Crime Unit. La investigación se centró en personas con antecedentes que infringieron restricciones legales y participaron en actividades prohibidas en Internet. Las agencias indicaron que el proceso judicial sigue abierto y que se prevén más acusaciones en las próximas semanas.
De acuerdo con la OAG, el contexto de esta operación refleja la dificultad para la vigilancia y el cumplimiento de restricciones a delincuentes sexuales, especialmente en entornos digitales donde los controles resultan complejos por el aumento de redes sociales y aplicaciones. La colaboración entre agencias y la cooperación con empresas tecnológicas han sido destacados como factores determinantes para identificar reincidencia y prevenir la explotación de menores.
La detención masiva de reincidentes sexuales fue resultado de una investigación que abarcó el área de Greater Baton Rouge. Los informes oficiales revelan que los arrestados incumplieron restricciones asociadas a su estatus de delincuentes sexuales, accedieron a plataformas sociales como Facebook, Instagram y Snapchat, y cometieron nuevos delitos en línea, según datos de la OAG. El operativo se desarrolló entre marzo y mayo de 2026, culminando con la detención y procesamiento judicial de los implicados.
La fiscal general de Luisiana, Liz Murrill, señaló que la operación permitió identificar a individuos que violaron leyes de registro y reincidieron en conductas delictivas en la web. “No existen lugares seguros en Luisiana para quienes buscan explotar menores”, afirmó Murrill durante la rueda de prensa, conforme lo informaron el medio estadounidense Newsweek y la cadena local Louisiana Radio Network. A su juicio, “las plataformas digitales son un canal habitual para este tipo de reincidencias”.
De los sesenta arrestados, veintitrés enfrentan cargos adicionales por posesión de material de abuso sexual infantil y tenencia de imágenes o videos de abuso animal —esta tipificación está incluida en los delitos cibernéticos perseguidos—, según la OAG. Todos los detenidos fueron acusados de violar restricciones impuestas por sentencias previas, y varios reincidieron en el uso de redes sociales para contactar o explotar menores.
La Louisiana Bureau of Investigation detalló que las personas arrestadas accedieron a Facebook en 33 ocasiones, a Instagram en 14 y a Snapchat en 10, pese a la prohibición expresa derivada de su estatus penal. El detalle de los cargos y los nombres de los detenidos fueron publicados en el portal oficial de la Fiscalía.
La acción policial, denominada Operation Restricted Domain, se llevó a cabo durante dos meses mediante la colaboración de la LBI, la ICAC Task Force y la Cyber Crime Unit. La estrategia incluyó el seguimiento de actividades en línea, la revisión de registros digitales y la verificación del cumplimiento de sentencias judiciales.
La OAG detalló que la operación contempló trabajo de campo, rastreo digital y análisis de denuncias ciudadanas. Se trabajó conjuntamente con agencias locales, estatales y federales, permitiendo detectar patrones de reincidencia y actividades ilícitas en varios municipios del área de Greater Baton Rouge.
Liz Murrill precisó que “la colaboración con otras agencias y el uso de sistemas de monitoreo han sido factores determinantes para el éxito de esta operación”, según el reporte oficial de la OAG.
El aumento de delitos sexuales en entornos digitales ha originado un incremento de las acciones policiales y judiciales en Luisiana. Conforme a datos de la OAG, hasta el 10 de mayo de 2026, el estado recibió ‘casi 27.000 denuncias cibernéticas’, cifra cercana a las poco más de 31.000 reportadas durante todo 2025. Esta tendencia revela la dificultad de controlar la reincidencia de sentenciados por delitos sexuales en el entorno digital.
La ICAC Task Force y la Cyber Crime Unit han realizado ‘292 arrestos’ en lo que va del año, identificaron ‘36 víctimas infantiles’ y consiguieron el ‘rescate de 32 niños’ de contextos de abuso, conforme señala la OAG y recogen el medio estadounidense Newsweek y la cadena local Louisiana Radio Network. Estas cifras reflejan la dimensión del reto que enfrentan las autoridades estatales.
La fiscal general Liz Murrill pidió a los padres que refuercen el control sobre la actividad digital de sus hijos. “Los padres deben ser muy vigilantes respecto a lo que hacen sus hijos en Internet”, recomendó la funcionaria en la conferencia de prensa. Subrayó que la exposición a potenciales abusadores persiste incluso con supervisión, por lo que sugirió “informar y alertar” a los menores sobre los riesgos vigentes en la web.
La OAG recordó la existencia de una línea directa para reportar delitos cibernéticos y precisó que las familias pueden acceder a recursos informativos sobre prevención de delitos sexuales en línea desde el sitio web oficial del estado.
Las autoridades de Luisiana señalan que monitorear individuos con antecedentes y su actividad en línea constituye un reto técnico y operativo permanente. De acuerdo con información de la OAG, “la aplicación de las restricciones para personas con antecedentes sexuales requiere la cooperación de las plataformas tecnológicas y la actualización de los marcos legales”.
La fiscal Murrill dirigió un llamado a las empresas de redes sociales para que colaboren con el estado y dificulten el acceso de reincidentes a sus plataformas. “Este es un delito que atraviesa fronteras y líneas estatales. Necesitamos el esfuerzo de todos para abordarlo”, declaró la funcionaria, según declaraciones recogidas por la OAG.
La Oficina de la Fiscal General de Luisiana puso a disposición pública la lista completa de detenidos y los cargos imputados en su portal oficial. Esta medida responde a los principios de transparencia y derecho a la información que establece la ley estatal. Los detalles del operativo y las declaraciones institucionales pueden consultarse en los sitios web de la OAG, así como en el medio estadounidense Newsweek y la cadena local Louisiana Radio Network.
Las investigaciones abiertas y la expectativa de nuevos cargos demuestran el compromiso estatal con la protección de menores y la persecución de delitos sexuales en línea. Las autoridades anticipan que tanto los operativos como el número de denuncias continuarán aumentando, a medida que se refuerzan las herramientas de monitoreo y reporte digital.
El impacto directo para la comunidad incluye el endurecimiento de controles sobre reincidentes sexuales, la puesta a disposición de información en línea y la promoción de campañas de educación y denuncia digital, en coordinación con la OAG y empresas tecnológicas.
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El hastío y la rabia de los cubanos
El cacerolazo se ha convertido en la forma de protesta por excelencia en toda Cuba. En cualquier lugar, la gente suena una cazuela
A Estados Unidos no le interesa la democratización cubana
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Solución entre cubanos
Debe haber una amnistía en Cuba
Si hablamos de reconciliación, debemos pensar también en una amnistía para aquellos que están en el gobierno
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