Yesterday, ProPublica uncovered the appalling extent of conservative kingpin Leonard Leo’s money, power, and influence in shaping America’s courts and in pushing his extreme right-wing agenda. The article further exposed how his dark money network has gone far beyond influencing just the Supreme Court and includes lower courts, attorneys general, elected officials and more.
“Not only has Leonard Leo managed to buy a Supreme Court majority, his dark money empire has infiltrated every level of the American justice system to advance a dangerous agenda to enrich his donors and threaten our rights and freedoms,” said Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund. “We are again calling on Congress to swiftly pass strict ethics standards and transparency laws to root out the corruption in the Supreme Court. The people’s voice should be at the center of our government—not those of billionaires and shadowy interest groups.”
ProPublica: We Don’t Talk About Leonard: The Man Behind the Right’s Supreme Court Supermajority
Andy Kroll, Andrea Bernstein and Ilya Marritz
10/11/23
Key findings:
- Leo has secretly directed the judicial selection at both federal and state levels, using his connections with high ranking officials to nominate extreme GOP candidates. His influence goes back to the Bush administration when Leo was “was tapped as one of four outside advisers on judicial nominees.”
- Leo appointed himself as a “den mother” to Supreme Court justices, to make sure the justices that he invested in were always “happy so they stay[ed] on the job.” This included lavish gifts, expensive dinners, and extravagant vacations with billionaires. By keeping them happy and showering them in gifts, Leo guaranteed himself a return on his investment, in the form of allegiances in future court cases.
- In addition to the lavish gifts, Leo also offered private access to Clarence Thomas Thomas—on the Supreme Court premises—as part of his political fundraising. These billionaire and high-net-worth donors, who invested massive resources towards pushing a conservative agenda, were able to meet and privately speak with Thomas.
- Through his massive dark money network, Leo was able to advance the interests of his right-winged billionaire benefactors—whether it be financial or political. Leo was able to influence high powered officials to join causes that they wouldn’t have otherwise, if Leo hadn’t asked them. He has been able to place members of the Federalist Society in clerkships, judgeships and jobs in the White House and across the federal government—guaranteeing his agenda is being pushed in every corner of government.
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