A former official at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has been charged in the Department of Justice's criminal case against the Alabama-based civil rights group, according to her lawyer.
Heidi Beirich, who previously served as the SPLC's chief financial officer and led its Intelligence Project, was expected to appear in court in Riverside, California. Her lawyer, Michael Proctor, confirmed that she faces charges in the existing case against the SPLC in Montgomery, Alabama.
Court records indicate that Beirich is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to submit false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to conceal money laundering. Proctor stated that "A free and fair society does not use the justice system to silence its political opponents."
Beirich was known for leading the SPLC's Intelligence Project, which published an annual report classifying certain organizations as hate groups. This classification drew criticism from conservatives who accused the SPLC of unfairly labeling right-wing groups alongside white supremacists.
After leaving the SPLC in 2020, Beirich co-founded the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. She has previously testified before Congress on the subject of far-right extremism and is frequently consulted by news media on the topic.
The SPLC has been a target of criticism from conservative circles, who allege the nonprofit exhibits political bias. An SPLC spokesperson declined to comment immediately when reached.