1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing as your constituent to demand congressional oversight of the Department of Justice's indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center, announced April 21, 2026. Acting AG Todd Blanche charged the SPLC with wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. The charges stem from the SPLC's use of paid confidential informants to infiltrate violent extremist groups including the Ku Klux Klan and Aryan Nations. Using paid informants to penetrate hate groups is a standard, lawful law enforcement technique employed by the FBI itself. This indictment bears every hallmark of political retaliation:The investigation was shut down under Biden and revived under Trump. Kash Patel publicly called the SPLC a "partisan smear machine" months before charges were filed. The DOJ charged SPLC rather than individuals — an unusual move designed to destroy the institution itself. The SPLC states its program saved lives and that intelligence was routinely shared with law enforcement. This follows a clear pattern of this administration deploying DOJ as a weapon against civil society critics. I urge you to: Demand hearings into DOJ's decision to revive a closed investigation for political purposes. Require transparency about who authorized this prosecution and why. Defend DOJ independence from White House political interference. A Justice Department that prosecutes its critics rather than pursuing justice is a threat to every American regardless of party. Please act.