Florida Attorney General James Usmeyer has launched a civil investigation into the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), alleging that the center may have engaged in deceptive and unfair practices related to charity solicitation and fundraising.
An investigative subpoena has been issued to the SPLC requiring it to produce documents and other evidence by May 25, 2026, the attorney general’s office said in a statement. The investigation focuses on how the SPLC collects and uses donations, particularly its alleged payments to informants and whether that conduct was disclosed to donors.
Usmayer said in a statement that the SPLC collects millions of dollars each year while allegedly compensating individuals associated with the groups it tracks. He added that the investigation will determine whether the fundraising representations made to donors were misleading and whether there were any violations of law.
The subpoena outlines extensive records that the SPLC must provide. These include materials showing how the organization communicated with Florida donors about its activities, including the use of informants, and marketing and advertising documents used in fundraising efforts. Investigators are also seeking records identifying the names and entities used to solicit donations on SPLC’s behalf.
Additional requests focus on changes to an organization’s website or other communications related to how donations are solicited, how funds are allocated, and whether those disclosures are updated over time. The subpoena also seeks records for all website documents used by the SPLC to collect donations, as well as details of donations received from Florida donors.
Financial records are a central part of the investigation. The Attorney General’s Office is requesting documentation showing how contributions will be distributed, including direct or indirect payments to informants, and the internal policies governing such payments. The subpoena also seeks information about what portion of the SPLC’s annual budget may be tied to informant-related costs.
The investigation also seeks internal communications regarding whether the use of informants was disclosed to donors and examples of communications sent to Florida donors about how donations were spent. Investigators are also seeking documents related to SPLC’s nonprofit status and representations it has made to financial institutions, technology companies, and other organizations about its programs and activities.
At this time, the SPLC has not publicly responded to the investigation. The outcome will depend on the materials produced and the Attorney General’s Office’s findings regarding compliance with Florida law governing charitable solicitation.
