Filed Date: April 21, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
On April 22, 2026, the United States Department of Justice filed criminal charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center in the Middle District of Alabama via grand jury indictment. The indictment claimed that Defendant, whose stated mission includes the dismantling of far-right extremist groups in the United States, paid informants to manufacture extremism between 2014 and 2023. The primary mechanism for this allegation, the indictment claimed, was the payment of informants through covert bank accounts for the purpose of safety and anonymity. Said informants included leadership members of far-right organizations, including an Imperial Wizard of the United Klans of America and the leader of the National Socialist Party of America. The charges included wire fraud, making false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Ben Hefter (4/23/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73223865/parties/united-states-v-southern-poverty-law-center-inc/
Marks, Emily Coody (Alabama)
Davidson, Kevin P (Alabama)
Athanas, William Charles (Alabama)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73223865/united-states-v-southern-poverty-law-center-inc/
Last updated April 23, 2026, 8:51 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Accommodations/ Contracting/ Organizational Discrimination
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 21, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The United States, via the Department of Justice
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Non-profit or advocacy
The Southern Poverty Law Center
Case Details
Other Dockets:
Middle District of Alabama 2:26-cr-00139
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Case Summary of United States v. Southern Poverty Law Center, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48122/ (last updated 4/23/2026).