Florida AG calls for inquiry into judge after alleged KKK fraud scheme

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Monday he has asked congressional leaders to open an impeachment inquiry into Judge Nancy Abudu, citing her prior work for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and allegations of fraud involving donor money.

What Uthmeier is asking Congress to do

In a statement announcing the move, Uthmeier said he sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and several congressional committee chairmen.

Uthmeier said he is requesting an impeachment inquiry into Abudu, arguing Congress should examine whether her prior role at the SPLC warrants impeachment and removal.

The SPLC allegations

In the letter, Uthmeier alleges that a federal grand jury returned an indictment against the SPLC and claims the organization used donor money under the guise of opposing violent extremism while instead funding extremist groups — including the Ku Klux Klan — and that those actions amounted to fraud.

The attorney general’s letter also says Abudu served as a top SPLC attorney during part of the period he describes as the alleged fraud, and argues Congress should determine what she knew about the organization’s alleged conduct.

“It strains credulity to think that Judge Abudu, a senior legal officer at SPLC, wouldn’t have been aware of the organization’s alleged criminal conduct during her tenure,” Uthmeier wrote.

Background on Abudu’s prior position

Uthmeier’s letter states Abudu worked at SPLC from 2019 to 2023, including as Director of Strategic Litigation, a role he describes as overseeing litigation and creating practice groups.

Currently, Abudu is a U.S. Circuit Judge on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, appointed in May 2023 and entering duty in June 2023.

What happens next

Impeachment inquiries and proceedings involving federal judges are handled by Congress. As such, Uthmeier’s request does not itself initiate an inquiry.

Any next steps depend on potential congressional action.