Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has pushed back against Republican demands for answers after the Southern Poverty Law Center was indicted on 11 counts alleging it covertly paid extremist groups. Benson volunteered for the SPLC after college and served on its board from 2014–2018; her campaign denies any involvement in the conduct alleged in the indictment. Michigan Republicans say the timing of the alleged payments overlaps Benson’s board tenure and demand she explain what she knew, while the SPLC calls the charges false and says it is reviewing the case.
SPLC Indictment Fuels GOP Questions About Jocelyn Benson’s Past Role — Campaign Pushes Back
Michigan governor hopeful pressed on past SPLC work after DOJ indictment: 'What did Jocelyn know?'
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s gubernatorial campaign pushed back Friday after Michigan Republicans demanded answers about her past work with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which was federally indicted this week on 11 counts alleging it secretly paid members of extremist organizations.
What Happened
The Department of Justice announced an 11-count indictment alleging the SPLC made concealed payments to members of extremist groups — including Ku Klux Klan affiliates and organizations tied to the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville — to produce a "work product" documenting those groups' activities. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Christopher Wray (referred to as Patel in some coverage) said prosecutors believe some payments were hidden from donors, a point that underlies several of the charges.
Benson’s Relationship With SPLC
After graduating from college in Massachusetts in 2004, Benson moved to Alabama and volunteered as a researcher for the Montgomery-based SPLC. Her campaign confirms she later served on the organization’s board from 2014 to 2018. SPLC officials have recalled Benson arriving in Montgomery "straight out of college as an unpaid intern" and volunteering while working other jobs to support herself.
Michigan Attorney General Jocelyn Benson is seen at an event.(Getty Images)
"What did Jocelyn know, and when did she know it?" — Michigan Republican Party post on X, criticizing Benson's past association with the SPLC.
Campaign Response
Benson’s campaign rejected the GOP implication that she had knowledge of or involvement in the conduct alleged in the indictment. In a statement to Fox News Digital, the campaign highlighted Benson’s record combating white supremacist and neo‑Nazi networks and emphasized that she remains focused on economic issues such as lowering costs and raising wages for Michigan residents.
Political Fallout
Michigan Republicans, including state GOP Chairman Jim Runestad, pressed Benson for more details because the DOJ says the payments began during the period she served on the SPLC board. Runestad told reporters that Benson "owes an explanation to the public" about what she knew regarding the alleged conduct.
SPLC’s Response
SPLC CEO Bryan Fair denounced the indictment in a video message and a written statement, calling the allegations false and defending the SPLC’s five-decade history of reporting on and combating white supremacy. Fair said the organization is reviewing the charges and reiterated that its work to monitor violent hate groups is dangerous but vital.
Groups Named In The Indictment
- Ku Klux Klan
- United Klans of America
- Organizations tied to the Unite the Right rally
- National Alliance
- National Socialist Movement
- Aryan Nations–affiliated Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club
- National Socialist Party of America (American Nazi Party)
- American Front
The story continues to develop. Reporting for this article included contributions from Fox News Digital reporters Alexandra Koch, Alec Schemmel, Jake Gibson and David Spunt.
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