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Congress Member Claims Loyola Professor Associates With Hate Group

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A Baltimore college professor has been accused of associating with a hate group.  The allegations surfaced during a finance hearing on Capitol Hill.

Adam May examines the claims and the heated rebuttal.

Thomas DiLorenzo is an economics professor at Loyola University in Baltimore.  His credibility was recently questioned during a House subcommittee hearing in Washington by a member of Congress.

"You work for a southern nationalist organization that espouses very radical notions of American history and the federal government," said Rep. Lacy Clay, (D) Missouri. "Doctor DiLorenzo, you are listed on their website as teaching for their League of the South Institute."

The League of the South believes southern states should secede from the Union, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a hate group watchdog.

"DiLorenzo is exactly not the kind of guy who should be testifying in Congress.  We don't want hate groups up there," said an official. "He's spoken at events they've had as late as 2009."

In a blog post, DiLorenzo disputes the allegations, writing, "About 13 years ago, three fellow academics asked me if I would deliver a few lectures.  That is the only connection I have ever had with the League of the South."

He also wrote about the representative who questioned his credibility, calling him "a liar, a bigot and sleazy."

Loyola University says they are looking into the allegations, but so far they say they haven't found any close ties between DiLorenzo and the League of the South.

DiLorenzo did not return email and phone messages asking for comment.

Potential 2012 presidential candidate Ron Paul called DiLorenzo as a witness.  His spokeswoman calls the allegations irrelevant.

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