Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power
DOJ Indicts Southern Poverty Law Center Over Its Paid-Informant Program (April 2026)
Trump's DOJ indicted the SPLC — the nation's leading hate-group monitor — on fraud and money laundering charges over a now-defunct program that secretly paid informants inside white supremacist groups, alleging the payments defrauded donors and funded extremism. The SPLC pleaded not guilty on May 7, 2026. Norm Eisen said 'we've never seen a case like this under a Democratic or a Republican administration.' The prosecution is pending.