Grassley, Lankford urge FBI to drop biased SPLC as source.
The FBI Urged to Cut Ties with Biased Southern Poverty Law Center
Sens. Chuck Grassley and James Lankford have called on the FBI to sever its relationship with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a highly biased and unreliable source. In an exclusive letter shared with The Federalist, the senators highlighted the SPLC’s history of smearing political opponents on the left.
The senators were informed in September that the FBI still uses the SPLC as a source, as long as their bias is disclosed. However, considering the SPLC’s track record of tarnishing organizations with Christian missions or conservative ties, Grassley and Lankford argued that the FBI should permanently refrain from relying on the SPLC for any data or information related to hate group designations.
The SPLC is notorious for disseminating its “hate group” list, which includes over 1,225 organizations, to Democrat allies in Congress, Big Tech, and woke corporations. Recently, the SPLC targeted grassroots groups, such as Moms For Liberty, as “anti-government extremist groups” in its 2022 “hate and extremism” report.
The SPLC’s infamy extends to galvanizing a Virginia man to attack the Family Research Council and its staff members facing domestic terrorism charges. It was only after this attack that the FBI removed the SPLC as a resource from its Hate Crime landing page.
Grassley and Lankford emphasized that the FBI should distance itself completely from the SPLC. They pointed out that the FBI’s leaked memo targeting traditional Catholics heavily relied on SPLC data, which raises concerns about the surveillance and investigation of Christians who attend Latin Mass.
The senators asserted that there is never a legitimate reason to use the SPLC as a source due to its extreme bias. They called on the FBI and its field offices to cease using the SPLC as an investigative source and analytical product.
The letter comes at a time when the FBI is reportedly targeting Trump voters as domestic extremists ahead of the 2024 election. Grassley and Lankford have given the FBI until October 27 to ensure that other reports have not been corrupted by the use of the SPLC in their analysis.
Read the full letter here.
Why is it concerning for the FBI to associate with an organization like the SPLC that lacks transparency, has faced allegations of financial mismanagement, and has fired its co-founder for alleged misconduct
The SPLC as a reference for information on hate crimes. However, the SPLC has repeatedly been criticized for its questionable practices and blatant bias.
The SPLC was originally founded in 1971 with the intention of advocating for civil rights and combating hate groups. However, over the years, it has strayed from its original mission and has become a weapon for attacking ideological opponents. Rather than focusing on real hate groups that pose a genuine threat to society, the SPLC has expanded its definition of “hate” to include individuals and organizations that simply hold conservative viewpoints.
One of the most concerning aspects of the SPLC’s work is its habit of labeling organizations and individuals as “hate groups” without providing substantive evidence to support these claims. This not only smears the reputations of innocent individuals and groups, but it also undermines the credibility of the SPLC itself. In recent years, the organization has faced multiple lawsuits from those who have been unfairly targeted by their labeling.
The senators rightly point out in their letter that the FBI should not associate itself with an organization that engages in such irresponsible practices. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, should rely on objective and reliable sources when gathering information. Collaborating with a biased organization like the SPLC only serves to undermine the integrity and impartiality of the FBI.
Moreover, the SPLC has been criticized for its lack of transparency and financial mismanagement. In 2019, co-founder Morris Dees was fired for alleged misconduct, raising serious concerns about the organization’s internal practices. It is simply unacceptable for the FBI to continue using the SPLC as a reference without considering these significant concerns.
The senators’ call for the FBI to sever its ties with the SPLC is a necessary step towards restoring trust in the federal agency. In order to effectively combat hate crimes and protect the American people, the FBI must distance itself from ideologically driven organizations like the SPLC and instead rely on objective and evidence-based sources.
While it is important to address and combat hate crimes, it should be done in a fair and unbiased manner. Using the SPLC as a reference undermines this principle and harms innocent individuals and groups. It is essential for the FBI to reconsider its relationship with the SPLC in order to maintain its reputation as a reliable and impartial law enforcement agency.
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