Feds Arrest Former SPLC Official Heidi Beirich
A former Southern Poverty Law Center official has been added as a defendant in a federal investigation involving allegations that millions of dollars in donated funds were secretly routed to people connected to extremist groups. Heidi L. Beirich, 59, of Palm Springs, California, was arrested Wednesday and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and […]
A former Southern Poverty Law Center official has been added as a defendant in a federal investigation involving allegations that millions of dollars in donated funds were secretly routed to people connected to extremist groups.
Heidi L. Beirich, 59, of Palm Springs, California, was arrested Wednesday and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to submit false statements to a federally insured bank, according to the Department of Justice.
Beirich was also added to an existing conspiracy charge involving concealment money laundering that had previously been filed against the SPLC.
The organization itself was indicted in April on 11 counts involving wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering.
According to the second superseding indictment announced Wednesday, prosecutors allege that more than $4 million in donated money was secretly funneled to individuals associated with violent extremist groups between 2007 and 2023.
“The indictment unsealed today reflects the continued work of federal investigators and prosecutors in examining this alleged scheme,” U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan said. He added that prosecutors intend to present their evidence in court and allow the judicial process to determine responsibility.
Beirich previously led an SPLC project focused on tracking hate groups. According to a CNN report citing the indictment, prosecutors allege that she also oversaw payments involving donor funds that ultimately went to individuals connected to some of the groups the organization monitored.
The Justice Department alleges that some of that money reached an individual identified as an Imperial Wizard in the Ku Klux Klan.
Prosecutors also claim Beirich had a romantic relationship with an SPLC source who allegedly infiltrated a white supremacist organization and obtained documents for the SPLC.
Another part of the indictment centers on a bank account that Beirich allegedly shared with an individual who received SPLC-related payments. Prosecutors say some of the money was routed through shell companies in an effort to conceal the true purpose and recipients of the transactions.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said investigators believe Beirich participated in opening accounts under fictitious company names and arranging payments that were inaccurately described.
“I believe she was part of the effort to open bank accounts in completely fictitious companies’ names and make payments to individuals for reasons that were not accurate as described,” Blanche said.
He also said the latest charges show that investigators continued examining the case after the SPLC was initially indicted.
According to the indictment, the account connected to Beirich and another individual received roughly $140,000 in payments.
Beirich’s attorney has strongly denied the allegations.
“Dr. Beirich is innocent, and this case is without merit,” attorney Michael J. Proctor said in a statement.
Proctor also argued that the prosecution is politically motivated and said Beirich was targeted because of her work investigating extremist organizations.