Prosecutors charge Heidi Beirich with financial crimes as part of case against the Southern Poverty Law Center

The justice department charged the SPLC in April over a now-ended program in which it paid informants to infiltrate white supremacist groups.

The government said the civil rights organization committed financial crimes by laundering money through bank accounts set up on behalf of fictitious entities to protect the identities of their informants. The government says the SPLC deceived donors into thinking they were combatting extremism, when they were actually supporting it.

The organization has strongly denied that accusation and says the charges are politically motivated. Experts have raised questions about the charges.

  • Jaysyn@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    This won’t go far.

    A.) They’d have to identify these white supremacist entities as actually being dangerous extremists, and won’t do that because their most racist supporters would revolt, shaving off more votes.

    B.) They’d have to show that it’s illegal to use paid sources for investigation; it’s not & it’s something the FBI does on the regular.

    EDIT: I love that you downvoting MAGA pukes are too afraid to actually post here. 🤣🤣🤣

    • Catma@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      It doesnt have to go far. This is the same play as the Broadview 6, Comey, and the refelecging pool guy. The charges are the point because yes, she probably has the means to defend against this but it is going to send a chilling affect across other people/organizations that may not have the same resources.

      • Jaysyn@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        It should be obvious by now that the ‘chilling effect’ thing isn’t working out for them. They are just making us madder and more determined. Every single protest I’ve been to has been larger than the previous one & It’s cost the pedo GOP nearly every special election since 2024.

        • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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          8 hours ago

          You’re assuming these people are smart. The thing is I’m pretty sure they are basically incapable of deviating from whatever plans or strategies they cooked up ages ago so now they just double down till it either fails or works. Pretty sure that’s what happened with Iran for example, it was probably an old plan that had been sitting around for decades that maybe could’ve worked then but was left shelved until it became worthless, kinda like the Schlieffen plan during WW1.

          Also I just realized your profile pic is the Neverwinter Nights logo.

          • Jaysyn@lemmy.world
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            6 hours ago

            Also I just realized your profile pic is the Neverwinter Nights logo.

            Yes it is, addicted to modding it. Do you play?

            • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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              4 hours ago

              Used to a couple years ago, but my current poison is Rimworld and CK3 the mod AtE. Also it’s mostly not my cup of tea will usually choose to play Fallout or more modern CRPGs unless I’m already burnt out on those but still in a CRPG kick.

    • ImgurRefugee114@reddthat.com
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      17 hours ago

      You’re making the bold assumption that the law works, which is a pillar that isn’t as reliable as it used to be. You’re likely right, but I don’t think that’s an immediate foregone conclusion

      • Rentlar@lemmy.ca
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        16 hours ago

        We’ve already had several cases where the Justice Department are desperately trying to walk back and drop their cases as quickly as possible before their called bluff results in worse consequences for them… (1) [2] [3]

    • NABDad@lemmy.world
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      10 hours ago

      They don’t have to say they are dangerous. In fact, if their tongues don’t cut themselves loose and jump out of their mouths on their own, they can claim that the groups are innocent patriotic social organizations targeted by the evil antifa terrorists.