SPLC Interim CEO Stonewalls Congress on DOJ Allegations It Paid KKK Leaders and Funded Charlottesville Rally

Bryan Fair, interim President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center, appeared Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee to address Justice Department charges filed in April alleging the organization funneled donor funds to groups including the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, and National Socialist Party of America.

Fair repeatedly stated that all allegations in the indictment will be addressed in the Middle District of Alabama. Prominent defense attorney Abbe Lowell sat behind him during the nearly four-hour hearing.

Rep. 1 million to informants tied to extremist groups, including the KKK, from 2010 to 2023. In two cases, informants who were active members of the local KKK chapter told the SPLC they wanted out because they feared for their safety, Hunt said.

Instead of supporting their exit, an SPLC employee allegedly encouraged the informants to remain involved and offered them a monthly salary of $1,200, according to Hunt. One informant rose into a leadership role within the KKK, recruited new members, purchased KKK materials, and was reimbursed for expenses related to cross-burning events.

Fair stated that the SPLC does not fund the KKK and does not fund hate groups.

He declined to answer specific questions about the allegations during the hearing. Rep. ) referenced DOJ allegations that the SPLC helped foment and fund transportation to the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The rally resulted in the death of one anti-racism activist and two police officers who died in a helicopter crash. Hageman noted that the SPLC received approximately $80 million in donations in the months following the rally. 9 million in revenue.

Fair credited a fundraising surge to President Trump taking office. He said the organization had long-standing links with the Department of Justice to supply tips on extremist activity. Rep. ) asked Fair about the SPLC labeling Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA as “Dangerous Extremists” in its Hate Watch newsletter.

Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September. Fair stated that what he regrets is the political violence in this country on any side of the aisle. Onder also asked whether Fair regretted naming Turning Point USA a hate group several months before September.

Rep. ) asked Fair about Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner’s Nazi tattoo, described as a Totenkopf used by Nazi death camp guards.

Fair stated he had no knowledge of the controversy. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) compared the SPLC’s treatment of the Platner matter to its condemnation of Pete Hegseth’s Jerusalem Cross tattoo. Fair stated that if the tattoo is a Nazi symbol then the SPLC opposes Nazis.

When pressed on whether a man with a Nazi tattoo should serve in the Senate, Fair said he would not vote for that person. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel announced charges against the SPLC on April 21.