The SPLC CEO Had Plenty To Say — Until Jim Jordan Asked One Specific Question

The head of the Southern Poverty Law Center played a masterclass in evasion on Capitol Hill Tuesday, refusing to answer basic yes-or-no questions from House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) about explosive allegations that the Left-wing nonprofit used donor cash to secretly bankroll extremist activities across America.

Bryan Fair, the SPLC’s interim president and CEO, hid behind his lawyers at nearly every turn — repeatedly deflecting to “counsel in the Middle District of Alabama” — as Jordan methodically walked through the superseding federal indictment against the organization.

According to the indictment, the SPLC used donor money to pay confidential “field sources” to infiltrate extremist groups — but the scheme allegedly went far beyond mere surveillance. Jordan pressed Fair on charges that the group’s operatives actually hosted extremist rallies, grew existing chapters of hate groups, recruited new members into those organizations, and even purchased materials for cross burnings. Fair’s response to nearly every charge was a variation of “our counsel will respond to all the allegations.”

“It seems to me if the answer is no, you could just say no,” a visibly frustrated Jordan told Fair, who acknowledged only that “we’ve alleged that those allegations are false.”

The indictment also names a web of alleged shell companies — Fox Photography, North West Technologies, Tech Writers Group, Rare Books Warehouse, Imagery Ink, J&J Electronics, Center Investigative Agency, and Kelly’s Marine — which Jordan suggested were used to launder payments to field sources and keep the paper trail obscured. Fair claimed knowledge of the companies came only through attorney-client privileged conversations, and refused to say whether they were fronts.

The reported total price tag for the alleged program? A staggering $4 million funneled to field sources, according to the indictment.

Then came the gut-punch moment. Jordan asked whether the SPLC’s fundraising spiked after the deadly 2017 Charlottesville rally — where, the indictment alleges, one of its own paid field sources helped coordinate transportation for participants. Fair acknowledged donations surged, but credited President Donald Trump’s 2016 election rather than Charlottesville. Jordan pointed out the group’s haul jumped from $51 million to $133 million in a single year.

Fair finally offered one voluntary admission: the SPLC ran the program “to protect our staff and to protect the public.” The group has since announced it is shutting down the field source program.

Jordan’s parting shot — asking Fair if he knew the president of the National Socialist Party — was met with the now-familiar refrain: “That’s an allegation in the indictment that will be responded to by counsel.”