SPLC seeks disclosure of grand jury transcripts in criminal case

Politics Southern Poverty Law Center seeks disclosure of grand jury transcripts in criminal case By Jacob Rosen, Jacob Rosen Justice Department Reporter Jake Rosen is a reporter covering the Department of Justice. He was previously a campaign digital reporter covering President Trump's 2024 campaign and also served as an associate producer for "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." Read Full Bio Jacob Rosen, Melissa Quinn Melissa Quinn Senior Reporter, Politics Melissa Quinn is a senior reporter for CBSNews.com, where she covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts. Read Full Bio Melissa Quinn April 28, 2026 / 10:29 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Washington — The Southern Poverty Law Center moved to force the disclosure of grand jury materials in the criminal case against the organization, citing what it said were "misleading" statements from Trump administration officials in the aftermath of the indictment last week and "obvious legal infirmities" in court filings. The filings come after a federal grand jury in Alabama indicted the group on 11 counts of wire and bank fraud-related charges last week. The Justice Department accused the group of paying members of extremist groups as part of its efforts to investigate them without disclosing the practice to donors or banks.The SPLC is a nonprofit that tracks white supremacist and other hate groups across the U.S., and has been a frequent target of President Trump's allies. It has denied the allegations."This indictment represents a stunning and unremitting departure from Justice Department policy and established law," attorneys representing the SPLC said in a motion filed Tuesday. "It seeks to criminalize some of the very investigative tools and programs that the SPLC has used for decades to infiltrate and dismantle violent extremist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan and the Aryan Nations — tradecraft that has produced vital intelligence that has been shared...