Scott Payne speaks on Joining the KKK as an Undercover FBI Agent, Describes Getting “Naturalized”

Former FBI agent Scott Payne detailed his undercover infiltration of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) during an investigation into white supremacist Benjy McDowell.

Payne explained a Klan induction ritual called “naturalization,” where new members are blindfolded and welcomed into the group, a moment Payne found surreal as he played the role for the job. Payne highlighted the challenges law enforcement faces in prosecuting hate speech under the First Amendment, emphasizing the need to differentiate protected speech from actionable threats. He also discussed the intersection of biker gangs and white supremacist groups, clarifying misconceptions about race and membership rules within these organizations.