Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is under scrutiny as calls intensify to strip the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) of its tax-exempt status. This demand comes from Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., who argues that the SPLC’s financial dealings amount to fraud. Harris contends that while the SPLC claims to combat hate, it has instead focused on targeting conservatives, provided funding to extremist groups, and detached itself from its original mission.
In an interview, Rep. Harris stated, “The SPLC has reached a point where it’s become extremely obvious that they are certainly not the organization anymore that they were maybe even founded to be.” He suggests that the SPLC has transformed into a left-leaning political entity, using its 501(c)(3) status to engage in activities that should be beyond its legal scope. According to Harris, the SPLC’s infamous “Hate Map” includes conservative groups alongside notorious organizations like the Ku Klux Klan and the Aryan Brotherhood.
Harris’s letter points out that a tax-exempt organization is expected to operate primarily for charitable and educational purposes and can’t partake in political activities. He claims the SPLC is in violation of these requirements by targeting conservative organizations while downplaying threats from violent left-wing groups such as Antifa.
During a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing, Harris underscored the apparent hypocrisy of the SPLC’s practices. He noted how the Biden administration used the SPLC’s guidance to justify monitoring groups they deemed “radical,” calling attention to the broader implications of such actions on constitutional rights. The lawmaker’s concerns extend to the SPLC’s designation of mainstream Christian groups like the Family Research Council as hate groups, an assertion that has historically had dangerous consequences. In 2012, a shooter attacked the Family Research Council after determining its anti-LGBT designation on the SPLC’s website.
Harris’s criticisms do not stop there. He aggressively criticized the SPLC for allegedly funneling $4 million into shell companies linked to groups like the KKK. “That’s an act of fraud rather than charity,” he asserted, insisting this behavior must be addressed. The allegations suggest that these funds were used for nefarious activities, including financing Ku Klux Klan events. Such claims paint a picture of a nonprofit that has strayed far from its stated mission of promoting tolerance and equality.
Further compounding the SPLC’s troubles, Harris highlighted the group’s exploitation of incidents to boost donations. He commented on the spike in contributions the SPLC allegedly saw following the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Harris speculated that the SPLC might have even played a role in planning the rally through paid informants. “That’s the way these groups work, because, again, it becomes a money-making machine,” Harris said. He implies that the SPLC thrives on division and conflict, using social unrest to bolster its revenues.
Harris concluded his letter to Bessent by urging a thorough examination of the SPLC’s tax-exempt status, reiterating that the organization does not fit the criteria for such classification. He stated, “The evidence is clear: the SPLC does not operate as a charitable organization.” His call for accountability resonates with growing concerns about the SPLC’s evolving role in political discourse and its impact on American society.
The SPLC, for its part, has denied the DOJ’s allegations and has not offered any comments to the media regarding these serious accusations. The ongoing scrutiny could have lasting effects on the SPLC’s operations and its relationships with donors, should the Treasury pursue the matter further. As these discussions unfold, the SPLC’s future as a tax-exempt entity hangs in the balance, with potential implications for its funding and influence in the realm of social justice advocacy.
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