DOJ accuses Southern Poverty Law Center of using donations to pay secret informants

NPR | By Debbie Elliott

Published April 22, 2026 at 5:32 PM EDT

The Justice Department has accused the Southern Poverty Law Center of money laundering and other crimes. The DOJ says the Alabama-based civil rights organization paid sources to stoke racial hatred.

Debbie Elliott

NPR National Correspondent Debbie Elliott can be heard telling stories from her native South. She covers the latest news and politics, and is attuned to the region's rich culture and history.

See stories by Debbie Elliott

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