Benson’s SPLC ties draw scrutiny in Michigan governor’s race

Michigan Republicans are criticizing Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson over her past work with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which faces federal criminal charges related to payments to informants inside extremist groups. The SPLC denies the allegations and says the prosecution is politically motivated.

Benson served on the nonprofit’s board from 2014 to 2018 while she was dean of Wayne State University’s law school. She was not paid, and she has said she was unaware of the alleged payments and that her board role was mostly ceremonial. She left the board after winning election as Michigan secretary of state.

Benson is not named in the indictments, which remain in the early stages of federal court proceedings. Her campaign defended her civil-rights work and accused Republicans of trying to link her to the case.

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