U.S. News
Michigan Politician’s Nonprofit Past Sparks Federal Indictment
Clear Facts
- The Southern Poverty Law Center faces 11 federal counts, including wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
- Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson served on the SPLC board from 2014 to 2019.
- Federal prosecutors allege donor funds went to extremist-group informants during Benson’s tenure.
The Department of Justice recently announced a grand jury indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center for allegedly defrauding donors. Prosecutors say the organization paid millions of dollars to informants within extremist groups it publicly denounced.
Jocelyn Benson, who is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, was a board member while the alleged payments occurred. The indictment says the SPLC funneled roughly $3,000,000 to figures within groups like the Ku Klux Klan and the Aryan Nation.
“Unbeknownst to donors, some of their donated money was being used to fund the leaders and organizers of racist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, the Aryan Nation and the National Alliance,” the indictment reads.
The legal filing also alleges that a prominent organizer of the 2017 Charlottesville rally served as a field source for the group. That claim raises questions about board oversight during Benson’s five-year term.
The SPLC has a long history of targeting mainstream conservative organizations by labeling them as hate groups. This list has included Parental Rights in Education and Moms for Liberty, effectively blocking their access to certain donation platforms.
Criticism of the SPLC intensified after its hate map was linked to various incidents of political violence over the last decade. Despite these controversies, Benson has previously touted her work with the organization as preparation for her role overseeing Michigan elections.
“I developed a deep understanding of the ways that extremist rhetoric and ideology lead to actual violence directed at individuals, communities, and, sometimes, entire nations,” Benson claimed in her memoir.
The Michigan official’s campaign has not yet provided a formal response regarding the federal indictment. As the legal proceedings move forward, the connection between high-ranking Democrats and the embattled nonprofit remains under scrutiny.
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