The Department of Justice has accused the Southern Poverty Law Center of illegally paying leaders of hate groups to serve as informants, according to allegations that have emerged against the civil rights organization.

The DOJ claims that eight hate group leaders received payments from the SPLC as part of what officials describe as an informant scheme. Among those allegedly paid was a former Ku Klux Klan Imperial Wizard and a neo-Nazi leader, with the total payments reportedly reaching millions of dollars.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, founded in 1971, has built its reputation on tracking hate groups and extremist organizations across the United States through its Intelligence Project and Hatewatch newsletter. The organization has faced previous criticism over its classification methods and leadership practices.

The allegations raise questions about the SPLC's operational methods and whether the organization may have violated federal laws governing the use of informants. The SPLC has not yet publicly responded to the specific DOJ allegations regarding the informant payments.

The controversy comes as the organization, led by a CEO earning $520,000 annually, continues to face scrutiny over its practices and classifications of various groups and individuals as hate-related entities.