An online feud between U.S. Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY) and DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin erupted on Wednesday over the Justice Department’s indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
President Trump’s Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel allege that the nonprofit had secretly paid informants in white supremacist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan.
Goldman reacted to the indictment by writing: “The DOJ uses paid informants all the time — why is it OK for them but not the SPLC. @splcenter plays a vital role in fighting hatred, yet has been unfairly targeted by Trump and House Republicans since day one. This politicized intimidation needs to stop, now.”
McLaughlin replied: “Correction: the @splcenter plays a vital role in *funding* hatred.”
Correction: the @splcenter plays a vital role in *funding* hatred. pic.twitter.com/b53g4f89XN
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) April 22, 2026
Blanche jumped into the feud by writing: “Hey Dan, remember when you were a federal prosecutor? Man, you really have been captured by the extremists in your own party. At least you’ve gone all in on the asinine talking points.”
Yes Todd I remember the many years I was a prosecutor alongside you, when you would have resigned before acting on the blatantly political directives you now dole out routinely.
Sadly, it is you that has been captured by a deeply unethical and lawless man.
It is sad to see. https://t.co/mOzc9kLqBD
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) April 24, 2026
Goldman replied today to Blanche: “Yes Todd I remember the many years I was a prosecutor alongside you, when you would have resigned before acting on the blatantly political directives you now dole out routinely. Sadly, it is you that has been captured by a deeply unethical and lawless man. It is sad to see.”
[NOTE: Both Blanche and Goldman worked as assistant United States attorneys (AUSAs) in the Southern District of New York — Blanche began in 2006, Goldman in 2007.]
Former U.S. Attorney and New Jersey governor Chris Christie recently offered a similar take on Blanche’s trajectory, saying he was “obliterating” his reputation.
Goldman further escalated the back and forth on Friday afternoon, writing: “And on SPLC, why doesn’t the indictment include any ‘victim’ donors to prove a material misrepresentation? Do you have a single witness who gave money to SPLC to stop hate groups but who is upset that SPLC used that money to stop those groups through paid informants? I bet not.”