Claims linking Benson to KKK lack evidence, review finds

Social media posts and a political advertisement have sought to link Michigan Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson to the Ku Klux Klan through her past work with the Southern Poverty Law Center. Benson served on the civil rights group's board from 2014 until at least 2018 and previously worked there as an intern and researcher.

The Justice Department has accused the SPLC of secretly paying informants in extremist groups, including KKK members, but Benson is not named in the indictments. There is no evidence she was involved in the informant program, and the allegations have not been proven in court.

The indictments do not allege that the SPLC funneled millions specifically to the KKK. Benson has described her board role as mostly ceremonial and said she was unaware of the practice. Her campaign said her work focused on combating white supremacist and neo-Nazi networks.

Read the full story at snopes.com.