F.B.I. Knew Civil Rights Group Informants Helped Bring Down Extremists, Lawyers Say

Key Points:

• The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) faces federal charges accusing it of defrauding donors by secretly paying informants within extremist groups, allegedly promoting rather than dismantling far-right networks.
• In response, the SPLC stated in court filings that information from its informants was shared multiple times with law enforcement, including the FBI, leading to arrests and prosecutions of extremists.
• SPLC lawyers met with Justice Department prosecutors before the indictment was unsealed, presenting evidence that their informant program, which ended three years ago, was used to hold hate groups accountable, not fund them.
• Examples cited include informants aiding in the conviction of a Vanguard America member and providing intelligence on an Atomwaffen Division neo-Nazi involved in planned attacks, as well as warnings about potential violence at the 2018 Charlottesville rally.
• The SPLC emphasized that the Department of Justice is aware their confidential informants have helped law enforcement successfully prosecute violent extremists.