USC historian defends Southern Poverty Law Center funneling payments to KKK leaders

A USC historian has defended the Southern Poverty Law Center's past actions involving payments to former Ku Klux Klan leaders, arguing the moves were strategic efforts to gather intelligence and disrupt extremist networks. The comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the SPLC's tactics and historical decisions. The historian emphasized the complexity of engaging with hate groups for investigative purposes. No new payments or affiliations are currently in question.