TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has launched a civil investigation into the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to determine whether recent allegations of “deceptive and unfair practices” linked to its fundraising and charitable solicitations have taken place in the state.

AG Uthmeier issued an investigative subpoena under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act requiring the SPLC turn over “documents and evidence” by May 25. With these records, investigators seek to uncover how donations from Floridians were used and whether residents were informed of donations potentially going to the very extremist organizations the SPLC claims to fight against.

The investigation follows the SPLC’s 11-count indictment from a federal grand jury in April 2026 for its alleged decade-long fraud and money laundering scheme involving the covert payment of individuals tied to extremist organizations, such as the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, and National Socialist Party of America (American Nazi Party). According to the indictment, SPLC donors were misled into believing their contributions were being used solely to dismantle these groups, yet a portion of the funds was instead diverted to members or leaders within them. The SPLC later claimed that these funds went toward paid “informants” inside these organizations. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that instead of dismantling these groups, the SPLC was “manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose.”

“The SPLC raises millions in charitable donations every year, while allegedly paying members and leaders within the very groups it purports to fight,” stated AG Uthmeier. “SPLC appears to be running a deceptive organization that pays informants to manufacture racism on its behalf. If these allegations are true, there will be consequences.”

The subpoena requires the SPLC hand over a wide range of documents dating back to 2014, including financial donation records, budget allocations and internal communications related to “informants,” and marketing materials used to solicit donations from Florida residents. 

The subpoena also requires documents and communications regarding the SPLC’s “Extremist Files,” “hate map,” “Intelligence Project,” and “No Blood Money Campaign.” 

Liberty Counsel’s Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “With credible allegations of deceptive fundraising and undisclosed ‘informant’ programs, the Southern Poverty Law Center warrants thorough investigation and scrutiny. Any organization that purports its mission as confronting extremist activities yet engages in questionable financial activities with those extremist organizations has crossed a line and must be held accountable. The SPLC has falsely labeled Liberty Counsel and many other Christian conservative groups as ‘hate groups’ in a baseless, reckless attempt to damage the reputations of those with which it merely disagrees. Now, this state investigation from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier further alleging deceptive practices by the SPLC is essential to restoring public trust and informed decision-making by charitable donors.”

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