 "Did Black Lives Matter leaders defraud donors? Trump's justice dept launches probe")
The US Justice Department has launched a probe into the leaders of Black Lives Matter movement after allegations surfaced that they used millions of dollars in donations to defraud the supporters of the cause.
According to a report by the Associated Press, federal law enforcement officials have issued subpoenas and served at least one search warrant as part of an investigation into the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. and other Black-led organisations that helped spark a national reckoning on systemic racism.
Is Trump going after right groups?
While it is not clear whether, after the investigation, the people in question will be criminally charged or not, the move comes at a time when civil rights organisations have flagged that the Trump administration is targeting groups that have been critical of him, including those affiliated with BLM, the transgender rights movement and anti-ICE protesters.
One source told AP that the investigation into BLM leaders was actually launched by the Biden administration and is getting renewed attention during the Trump administration. A second person confirmed that allegations were examined in the Biden administration.
The foundation said it took in over $90 million in donations following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man whose last breaths under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer sparked protests across the US and around the world.
Critics of BLM have alleged that the group have not been transparent about how the money was used. The accusation gained momentum after BLM foundation leaders in 2022 confirmed they used donations to purchase a $6 million Los Angeles-area property that includes a home with six bedrooms and bathrooms.
What has BLM said?
Leaders of the foundation have received subpoenas. In a statement emailed to the AP on Thursday, the foundation said it “is not a target of any federal criminal investigation.”
“We remain committed to full transparency, accountability, and the responsible stewardship of resources dedicated to building a better future for Black communities,” the foundation said in the statement.
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