# SPLC says DOJ lets star witness run the prosecution

> Defense lawyers for the Southern Poverty Law Center say a former informant has become part of the prosecution team, choosing what evidence to hand over and even suggesting charges.
- Title: SPLC says DOJ lets star witness run the prosecution · CBS News
- Summary: Defense lawyers for the Southern Poverty Law Center say a former informant has become part of the prosecution team, choosing what evidence to hand over and…
- Keywords: southern poverty law center, justice department, witness f-9, wire fraud, bank fraud, heidi beirich, federal investigation, news, SPLC, DOJ, lets, star
- Source: CBS News — https://cbsnews.com/news/southern-poverty-law-center-doj-witness-f-9
- Author: Sarah N. Lynch
- Published: 2026-10-28T21:39:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: southern poverty law center, justice department, witness f-9, wire fraud, bank fraud, heidi beirich, federal investigation, news
## SPLC challenges witness role
Lawyers for the Southern Poverty Law Center asked a judge to let them subpoena a former informant known as F-9, saying the Justice Department treats him like part of the prosecution team.
## How the government got evidence
Investigators obtained documents, recordings and intelligence briefings from F-9 without a subpoena or search warrant. A former federal prosecutor told CBS News this was unusual, particularly with this witness.
## The charges against SPLC
The Southern Poverty Law Center has been indicted on eleven counts of wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.Prosecutors say it defrauded donors and duped banks using shell accounts.
## F-9's background and leverage
F-9 was an SPLC informant who infiltrated the Neo-Nazi group National Alliance. According to the defense filing, he faced potential tax prosecution for failing to pay income tax for thirty years when he began cooperating…
## Intensive contact since November
Since November twenty twenty-five, F-9 has met with the government more than twenty times, including at least four in-person meetings.
## F-9 gave intelligence briefings
F-9 gave four intelligence briefings with one hundred sixty-two pages of PowerPoint slides analyzing what charges the government should bring, what evidence supports them, possible witnesses and new investigative directions.

> F-9 should have been merely a witness in this case. But the government has treated him like part of the prosecutorial team itself.
## Selective evidence production
SPLC's lawyers say F-9 provided documents and recordings selectively, sending only clips from secret recordings when he possessed full recordings, seemingly sending only what supports his view of the SPLC.
## Key takeaway

The Southern Poverty Law Center's lawyers say the Justice Department is letting a key witness act as a prosecutor rather than a witness, controlling what evidence gets produced.