Southern Poverty Law Center faces Justice Department criminal probe

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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.

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