WASHINGTON – The Southern Poverty Law Center says it’s the subject of a Justice Department criminal investigation and faces possible charges over its use of paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups. The Alabama-based civil rights organization made the announcement Tuesday, saying President Donald Trump’s administration appears to be preparing legal action against it or its employees. Center CEO Bryan Fair says the focus appears to be its “prior use of paid confidential informants” to gather intelligence on violent groups. Fair says the information on extremist groups’ activities was often shared with law enforcement. The center is a popular target among Republicans who call it overly leftist and partisan. The Justice Department has no comment.
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration says it’s in talks with the IRS to resolve a $10 billion lawsuit over leaked tax information. Tax and ethics experts say the lawsuit raises legal and ethical questions. In a Friday federal court filing, President Donald Trump requests an extension to potentially resolve or narrow the dispute. Trump filed the lawsuit in a Florida federal court earlier this year, alleging reputational and financial harm from the leak. Former IRS contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn was sentenced to five years in prison in 2024 for leaking tax information about Trump and others. The president will control both sides of the litigation.
FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine and its reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, contending its article posted last week that talked about his alleged excessive drinking was a “malicious hit piece.” Patel denies allegations that his drinking had affected his job in the Trump administration. The article said that on “multiple occasions” Patel’s security team had difficulty waking him and at one point requested equipment designed to forcibly open a building when Patel was unreachable behind closed doors. The Atlantic says it stands by Fitzpatrick’s reporting and that it would defend itself against the “meritless lawsuit.” The lawsuit was filed Monday in district court in Washington.
– The Associated Press
