Rep. Jim Jordan Discusses DOJ Investigation of Southern Poverty Law Center
On Thursday’s “Hannity” on Fox News, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, spoke about the Justice Department’s scrutiny of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). This inquiry pertains to claims that the SPLC is financially supporting the very extremists it claims to oppose.
Hannity introduced the topic, stating that the DOJ has filed an updated indictment against the SPLC, highlighting additional allegations of fraud against its donors and banking institutions. The indictment asserts that SPLC employees maintained relationships with informants from white supremacist groups, during which time the center supposedly paid these informants over $1 million. Interestingly, when two KKK members reached out to the SPLC for assistance in leaving the hate group, the center allegedly chose to incentivize them to stay instead.
Ultimately, the SPLC reportedly channeled more than $4 million in donor funds to the extremists it publicly condemns. This approach resembles what some might refer to as a bank transfer scam.
Jim Jordan shared his disbelief regarding these revelations.
“I find this almost unbelievable,” he remarked, to which Hannity chimed in, “But why doesn’t anything surprise me anymore?”
Jordan responded, “It’s consistent with previous findings. The troubling part is that it’s often worse than we expect.” He added that it was disturbing to see an organization, ostensibly opposing hate, encouraging individuals to remain in those groups for profit, all while misleading their donors.
Jordan pointed out a critical takeaway: the Biden administration and the DOJ have legitimized the SPLC by collaborating with them. They have regular meetings, and key officials, like Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, have engaged with the SPLC. He noted that the infamous Biden FBI memo labeled pro-life Catholics as extremists, drawing on the SPLC’s categorization.
“They’ve made the SPLC standard, even amid the apparent deceit,” Jordan asserted, expressing his disapproval of the situation.
Hannity asked what specific crimes might emerge from the investigation.
Jordan suggested there is likely evidence of money laundering through various shell organizations, as well as bank and wire transfer fraud. The SPLC may have also misled donors about the nature of their financial dealings, as they funded efforts to portray certain individuals as extremists.
He also found it noteworthy that, although the Biden DOJ was aware of the ongoing issues, they chose not to pursue legal action. “It’s difficult to take action against an organization you’re collaborating with,” he stated.
Tragically, the SPLC seems to have profited significantly after high-profile events, like the Charlottesville rally, where their revenue reportedly expanded threefold.
In closing, Jordan expressed appreciation for the ongoing work by Todd Blanche and the DOJ in holding the SPLC accountable, highlighting the importance of accountability in such cases.
