The Southern Poverty Law Center’s leader entered a not guilty plea Thursday in federal court, desperately fighting charges that the organization defrauded its donors by secretly funneling more than $3 million to the very white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups it claimed to oppose.
The SPLC was forced to respond to an 11-count indictment from the Trump DOJ, including six counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud and false statements, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Commentators are labelling the case one of the biggest scams ever to be exposed.
The SPLC is accused of making payments amounting to over $1 million to a National Alliance affiliate, more than $300,000 to an Aryan Nations affiliate, $270,000 to a “Unite the Right” member, $140,000 to a former National Alliance chairman, $73,000 to former KKK members, and $19,000 to an American Front president and felon.
The court appearance comes just weeks after the Trump DOJ’s indictment exposed the scheme.
Hellbound and Down 