Former federal prosecutors identify legal flaws in DOJ indictment of Southern Poverty Law Center
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Apr 24
Former federal prosecutors identify legal flaws in DOJ indictment of Southern Poverty Law Center
10 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Apr 24
Legal experts say the 11-count indictment, including wire fraud and money laundering charges, may be dismissed due to unclear allegations and lack of explicit material misstatements by the SPLC.
Some lawyers argue the bank fraud charges are stronger, but note the DOJ used a narrower statute that may not apply to checking accounts, and recent Supreme Court rulings raise further challenges.
The SPLC denies all charges and vows to fight in court, while the DOJ remains confident. The case signals increased scrutiny of progressive nonprofits and follows the FBI’s recent severing of informal ties with the SPLC.
Can bank fraud charges stick if the law is unclear on checking accounts?
If donors supported paying informants, how can the government prove wire fraud?
How will this indictment affect the credibility of the SPLC's influential 'hate group' list?
Are new IRS rules the start of a broader crackdown on activist nonprofits?
What legally separates the SPLC's informant payments from standard law enforcement tactics?
Did SPLC informants create extremism, or did they merely report on it?