Fox News reports that Heidi Beirich, a former Southern Poverty Law Center official and extremism researcher, has been charged federally with wire fraud in connection with alleged payments to sources within white supremacist groups. The article contrasts the charges with earlier praise from a former Biden administration official, who described her as a “terrific” leader on tackling online hate.

The allegations reportedly concern payments linked to the SPLC’s designation of hate groups and an alleged wider scheme involving extremist organisations, with one related Fox News headline referring to approximately $4 million. The article says Beirich had been regarded as an influential voice on hate crime and extremism before the charges; the allegations remain unproven unless established in court.