Washington, DC (April 23, 2026) — The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) issued the following statement condemning the federal indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as a politically motivated act of government overreach that threatens the rule of law and the safety of those working to dismantle violent extremism.
"This isn't a prosecution; it’s a government-sanctioned hunting license," said NACDL President Andrew Birrell. "By forcing discovery against the SPLC, the government is essentially handing white nationalists a magnifying glass and a map to the informants who infiltrated their cells. This is a show trial dressed in the robes of justice, designed to unmask the people who risked their lives to prevent racially motivated violence. The underlying fraud charges are a paper-thin pretext that will crumble under scrutiny, but the damage—the chilling of cooperation and the exposure of brave sources—is the real and intended poison."
"Bringing charges against the very watchdog groups that partner with the FBI to counter hate does not represent a commitment to justice — it represents a shield for violent white nationalist movements." said NACDL Executive Director Lisa Wayne. "This indictment sends a chilling message to every federal agent: if you listen to civil rights investigators, the government will hang you out to dry. We are witnessing the weaponization of the courtroom to accomplish what the Klan never could—the silencing of those who expose racially-motivated violence. This isn't a legal proceeding; it’s a retaliatory strike against the people standing between would-be domestic terrorists and their potential targets."
"NACDL calls on the Department of Justice to immediately dismiss this indictment and cease using the federal courts as an instrument of political retribution," concluded Birrell.
Contacts
Jessie Diamond, Deputy Director, Public Affairs and Communications, (202) 465-7647 or jdiamond@nacdl.org
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal legal system.
