President Donald Trump declared that if the federal indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is proven true, the results of the 2020 presidential election should be "permanently invalidated."

In a Truth Social post on Friday morning, Trump called the SPLC "one of the biggest political hoaxes in American history" and characterized the case as "just another Democrat scam like Act Blue."

Act Blue is an online platform for fundraising for Democratic campaigns. Trump is thus linking the SPLC to broader concerns about left-leaning political organizations and fundraising networks.

These remarks came after an Alabama federal grand jury indicted the SPLC on 11 counts, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Prosecutors allege that the organization secretly funneled approximately $3 million in donations between 2014 and 2023 to individuals associated with extremist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and neo-Nazi organizations.

According to the indictment, the SPLC is accused of using shell companies and concealing payments through deceptive financial practices, while publicly portraying itself as a group fighting extremism.

Prosecutors contend that the non-profit misled donors about how their contributions were being used, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated at a Justice Department press conference, "The Southern Poverty Law Center did not defund these groups."

He added, "Instead, they were fueling the extremism they claim to oppose by paying money to forces that incite racial hatred."

The case represents one of the most significant federal indictments against a prominent civil rights organization and highlights growing concerns among conservatives who have long criticized the SPLC as a biased entity targeting right-wing individuals and groups.

Trump embraced the indictment as vindication of those concerns, suggesting the alleged misconduct could have far-reaching implications.

"IF TRUE, THE 2020 ELECTION SHOULD BE PERMANENTLY INVALIDATED AND HAVE NO FURTHER EFFECT WHATSOEVER!" Trump wrote.

Trump and his allies have continued to argue that new revelations about political organizations and influence operations warrant further investigation.

The indictment against the SPLC details a scheme to siphon funds over several years through dummy accounts and fake businesses to pay informants embedded within extremist groups.

Prosecutors claim that in some instances, hundreds of thousands of dollars were paid, including to an individual connected to the 2017 Charlottesville rally, where a woman died and which served as a flashpoint for white nationalism and political violence.

SPLC officials have denied wrongdoing, asserting that the use of confidential informants was a legitimate investigative tool to gather intelligence on dangerous groups.

Bryan Fair, interim CEO of the SPLC, vowed to fight the charges in court, stating, "We are going to vigorously defend ourselves, our employees, and our work."

By Hong Sung-goo, Chief Editor of NNP USA / Special Dispatch NNP info@newsandpost.com