The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in the US has been indicted on federal fraud charges, alleging that the civil rights organisation improperly raised millions of dollars to pay informants to infiltrate extremist groups. The Justice Department alleges that the SPLC defrauded donors by using their money to fund extremism it claimed to be fighting. The SPLC, which has been targeted by conservative activists for its characterisations of right-wing groups, made payments of at least $3m between 2014 and 2023 to people affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan, the United Klans of America, the National Socialist Party of America and other extremist groups between 2014-2023. The organization's CEO, Bryan Fair, stated that they will vigorously defend themselves, staff, and their work. The investigation could raise concerns about whether the Trump administration is using the Justice Department to target opponents and critics.