The Steady Drip: Southern Poverty Law Center Says It Faces DOJ Probe Over Paid Informants (Connecting the Dots: The Southern Poverty Law Center & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Southern Poverty Law Center Says It Faces DOJ Probe Over Paid Informants (Connecting the Dots: The Southern Poverty Law Center & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Newsmax.com

Tuesday, 21 April 2026 10:13 AM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/us/southern-poverty-law-center-criminal-investigation/2026/04/21/id/1253654/

The Southern Poverty Law Center says it's the subject of a criminal investigation by the Justice Department and faces possible charges over its past use of paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups.

The civil rights group made the announcement on Tuesday, saying President Donald Trump's administration appears to be preparing legal action against it or some of its employees.

"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," CEO Bryan Fair said in a statement.

The Justice Department had no immediate comment.

The SPLC previously paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups and gather information on their activities, often sharing it with local and federal law enforcement, Fair said. It was used to monitor threats of violence, he said, adding that the program was kept quiet to protect the safety of informants.

"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," Fair said. "There is no question that what we learned from informants saved lives."

He said the organization "will vigorously defend ourselves, our staff, and our work."

The SPLC, which is based in Montgomery, Alabama, was founded in 1971 and used civil litigation to fight white supremacist groups. The nonprofit has become a popular target among Republicans who see it as overly leftist and partisan.

The investigation could add to concerns that Trump's Republican administration is using the Justice Department to go after conservative opponents and his critics. It follows a number of other investigations into Trump foes that have raised questions about whether the law enforcement agency has been turned into a political weapon.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has faced intense criticism from conservatives, who have accused it of unfairly maligning right-wing organizations as extremist groups because of their viewpoints. The SPLC regularly condemns Trump's rhetoric and policies around voting rights, immigration, and other issues.

The SPLC came under fresh scrutiny after the assassination last year of conservative activist Charlie Kirk brought renewed attention to its characterization of the group that Kirk founded and led. The SPLC included a section on that group, Turning Point USA, in a report titled "The Year in Hate and Extremism 2024" that described the group as "A Case Study of the Hard Right in 2024."

FBI Director Kash Patel said last year that the agency was severing its relationship with the SPLC, which had long provided law enforcement with research on hate crime and domestic extremism. Patel said the SPLC had been turned into a "partisan smear machine," and he accused it of defaming "mainstream Americans" with its "hate map" that documents alleged anti-government and hate groups inside the United States.

House Republicans hosted a hearing centered on the SPLC in December, saying it coordinated efforts with President Joe Biden's Democratic administration "to target Christian and conservative Americans and deprive them of their constitutional rights to free speech and free association."

Connecting the Dots:

Julian Bond is a co-founder for Southern Poverty Law Center, a director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and a director at People for the American Way.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for Center for Economic and Policy Research.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for People for the American Way and the Center for American Progress.

Raben Group was the lobby firm for People for the American Way.

Melody C. Barnes was a principal for the Raben Group, the domestic policy council, director for the Barack Obama administration, the EVP for the Center for American Progress and is Barack Obama’s golf partner.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Center for American Progress calls for heightened “Gun Safety, Gun Control” for guns.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ezekiel Emanuel is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, Ari Emanuel’s brother and was the health care policy adviser for the Barack Obama administration.

Ari Emanuel is Ezekiel Emanuel’s brother and the co-CEO & director for William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.

Lou Dobbs is a William Morris Endeavor Entertainment client and and a Southern Poverty Law Center critic.

Barbra Streisand is a William Morris Endeavor Entertainment client and the founder of the Barbra Streisand Foundation.

Margery Tabankin is the treasurer for the Barbra Streisand Foundation, a director at People for the American Way and a director at the Arca Foundation.

Center for Economic and Policy Research was a funder for the Arca Foundation.

Julian Bond is a director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a director at the People for the American Way and a co-founder for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for Center for Economic and Policy Research.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a contributor for MoveOn.org.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for People for the American Way and Demos.

James Rucker was a director of grassroots mobilization for MoveOn.org, a director at Green for All, is a co-founder for the ColorOfChange.org and a director at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Van Jones is the founder of Green for All, a trustee at Demos, was a co-founder for the ColorOfChange.org and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Melody C. Barnes was the EVP for the Center for American Progress, the domestic policy council, director for the Barack Obama administration, a principal for the Raben Group and is Barack Obama’s golf partner.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Center for American Progress calls for heightened “Gun Safety, Gun Control” for guns.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

John D. Podesta is the founder for the Center for American Progress, was a counselor for the Barack Obama administration and a director at the Apollo Alliance.

Van Jones was a director at the Apollo Alliance, is the founder of Green for All, a trustee at Demos, was a co-founder for ColorOfChange.org and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Center for American Progress calls for heightened “Gun Safety, Gun Control” for guns.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for Center for American Progress and Demos.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a contributor for MoveOn.org.

James Rucker was a director of grassroots mobilization for MoveOn.org, a director at Green for All, is a co-founder for ColorOfChange.org, and a director at Southern Poverty Law Center.

Julian Bond is a co-founder, director emeritus for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a director at People for the American Way and an advisory committee member for Single Stop USA.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for Center for Economic and Policy Research.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for People for the American Way and the Robin Hood Foundation.

Robin Hood Foundation was a funder for Single Stop USA.

Clifford S. Asness was a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation and supported same-sex marriage in New York.

Emma Bloomberg was the chief of staff for the Robin Hood Foundation and is Michael R. Bloomberg’ daughter.

Michael R. Bloomberg was a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, the Mayor of New York City, is Emma Bloomberg’s father and an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Morton H. Halperin is a director at the ONE Campaign, a senior adviser for the Open Society Foundations, served with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Raben Group was the lobby firm for People for the American Way.

Julian Bond is a director at the People for the American Way, a director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and a co-founder for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for People for the American Way and Demos.

George Soros was the Chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a contributor for MoveOn.org. and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Van Jones is the founder of Green for All, a trustee at Demos, was a co-founder for ColorOfChange.org, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and was a director at the Apollo Alliance

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

was the Chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

John D. Podesta is the founder for the Center for American Progress, was a counselor for the Barack Obama administration and a director at the Apollo Alliance.

Robert Redford was a director at the Apollo Alliance and the founder & president of the Sundance Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Sundance Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Lyn Davis Lear is a trustee at the Sundance Institute, a director at the Lear Family Foundation and married to Norman Lear.

Lear Family Foundation was a funder for People for the American Way.

Norman Lear is the president of the Lear Family Foundation, married to Lyn Davis Lear and a director at People for the American Way.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the People for the American Way.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Margery Tabankin is a director at the People for the American Way and the treasurer for the Barbra Streisand Foundation.

Julian Bond is a director at the People for the American Way, a director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and a co-founder for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for People for the American Way and Demos.

George Soros was the Chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a contributor for MoveOn.org. and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the Chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Center for American Progress and the International Rescue Committee.

Morton H. Halperin served with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, is a senior adviser for the Open Society Foundations and a director at the ONE Campaign.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Michael R. Bloomberg is an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Susan A. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s daughter.

Howard G. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s son.

Warren E. Buffett is Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father and an adviser at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Brookings Institution (think tank).

and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Lawrence H. Summers was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a director at the ONE Campaign.

Sheryl K. Sandberg was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a director at the ONE Campaign.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a director at the ONE Campaign.

Helene D. Gayle is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a director at the ONE Campaign.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the Chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Harold E. Ford Jr. was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and is a political commentator at MSNBC.

Mark Halperin In 2010, Halperin joined MSNBC, becoming the senior political analyst and a contributor, the founding editor for Bloomberg Politics, Morton H. Halperin’s son and is currently a host and commentator for Newsmax TV.

Bloomberg Politics is a division of Bloomberg LP.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of Bloomberg LP, an advocate for the ONE Campaign, Emma Bloomberg’s father, was the Mayor of New York City and a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Robin Hood Foundation.

George Soros was the Chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Emma Bloomberg was the chief of staff for the Robin Hood Foundation and is Michael R. Bloomberg’ daughter.

Clifford S. Asness was a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation and supported same-sex marriage in New York.

Robin Hood Foundation was a funder for Single Stop USA.

Julian Bond is an advisory committee member for Single Stop USA, a director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a director at People for the American Way and a co-founder, director emeritus for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for Center for Economic and Policy Research and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a contributor for MoveOn.org. and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for People for the American Way, Demos and the Center for American Progress.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Center for American Progress calls for heightened “Gun Safety, Gun Control” for guns.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Resources Past Research

Sheriff Wanted Humans Slaughtered At #BundyRanch! (Past Research on the Southern Poverty Law Center)

Monday, April 14, 2014

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/04/sheriff-wanted-humans-slaughtered-at.html

Sen. Warren Presses Amazon on Algorithmic Pricing for Schools (Connecting the Dots: Senator Elizabeth Warren, Ganesh Sitaraman, The Center for American Progress, Amazon, HUD, The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, The Urban Institute, The U.S. Department of Education & The Carnegie/Soros Network) (Past Research on the Carnegie Corporation New York)

Thursday, March 12, 2026

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/03/sen-warren-presses-amazon-on.html

Pepsi - Obama Logo Controversey (Connecting the Dots: PepsiCo, Inc., The Center for American Progress, Barack Obama administration, The Carnegie Corporation of New York & the Carnegie/Soros Network) (Past Research on the Center for American Progress)

Saturday, March 14, 2026

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/03/pepsi-obama-logo-controversey.html

Leftist Shooter Used Southern Poverty Law Center “Hate Map” to Plan Killings (Past Research on the Southern Poverty Law Center)

Thursday, February 12, 2015

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/02/leftist-shooter-used-southern-poverty.html

Trump Names Former Goldman Partner, Soros Money Manager As Finance Chairman (Past Research on the Robin Hood Foundation)

Friday, May 6, 2016

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2016/05/trump-names-former-goldman-partner.html

Dr. Morton Halperin – J Street Education Fund (Connecting the Dots: J Street, Morton Halperin, The Open Society Foundations, Newsmax’s Mark Halperin, Rhonda (Randi) Weingarten, The ONE Campaign, MSNBC, ACLU, The Carnegie & Soros Funding) (Past Research on the ONE Campaign)

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/06/dr-morton-halperin-j-street-education.html

Exxon Mobil Files Defamation Lawsuit Against California Attorney General, Environmental Groups (Connecting the Dots: Exxon Mobil Corp, The Sierra Club, Brazil & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the Apollo Alliance)

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/01/exxon-mobil-files-defamation-lawsuit.html

Norman Lear: Donald Trump is America’s ‘Middle Finger’ to Establishment (Past Research on Sundance Institute & Robert Redford)

Thursday, October 22, 2015

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/10/norman-lear-donald-trump-is-americas.html