The Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post report that the lawyer is 65-year-old Glen Keith Allen, formerly of DLA Piper who had been involved in defending Baltimore police in civil litigation over at least one wrongful prosecution case.

The SPLC had claimed Mr Allen gave money to the neo-Nazi group the National Alliance and contributed to the American Eagle Party, which it deems an offshoot of the racist American Freedom Party.

Influence judicial proceedings

Mr Allen told the Washington Post that he is not a white supremacist and agrees with the decision to end his contract because of the possibility that the allegations would influence judicial rulings against his clients.

A’ huge mistake’

He told the Baltimore Sun that he had not been a member of the National Alliance for many years and acknowledges ‘emphatically’ that his prior membership was a ‘huge mistake.’ He also said the American Eagle Party, ‘has nothing to do with race,’ but acknowledged he is vice chairman of the organisation.

He told the Post he believes it is ‘healthy to identify with your racial past’ and ‘there’s an amount of identity, pride in your race, that’s not permitted today. I also understand it can be obnoxious and create violence, and that’s not acceptable.’