Trump’s decide picker Leonard Leo might have violated The Federalist Society’s tax standing to acquire a $1.6 billion donation.
Leonard Leo, who helped to decide on judicial nominees for former President Donald Trump, obtained a historic $1.6 billion present for his conservative authorized community through an introduction via the Federalist Society, whose tax standing forbids political activism.
Leo first met Barre Seid, the now 91-year-old manufacturing magnate turned donor, via an introduction organized by Eugene Meyer, the longtime director of the Federalist Society. On the time, Leo was the society’s govt vice chairman, and he’s at present its co-chair. Meyer envisioned Seid as a contributor to the society, in keeping with an individual aware of the introduction. As a substitute, Leo cultivated Seid as a funder of his personal darkish cash community. The consequence was a $1.6 billion present introduced final 12 months — which is believed to be the most important political donation ever.
The Federalist Society is forbidden from partaking in partisan political exercise, nevertheless it seems Leo is utilizing the society as a backdoor to lift large sums of cash from conservative donors for partisan politics.
The corrupt association has caught the eye of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI):
Value retaining this nefarious tangle in thoughts as we contemplate the Supreme Court docket’s ethics mess at present in @JudiciaryDems listening to.
Bear in mind the portrait of Leo, Clarence Thomas and the right-wing billionaire.
https://t.co/DZ3vrPRbA4— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) Could 2, 2023
Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans always discuss concerning the swamp. The actual swamp is stuffed with darkish cash from conservative billionaires who’ve purchased their method into and corrupted the courtroom system. The courts are important to democracy, however what individuals like Leonard Leo are doing is destroying democracy with conservative billionaire money.
Clarence Thomas is the symptom, not the illness, and it’s gone time for the non-corrupted parts of the federal government to step in and save the courts from an inside assault coming from the best.
Jason is the managing editor. He’s additionally a White Home Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Diploma in Political Science. His graduate work targeted on public coverage, with a specialization in social reform actions.
Awards and Skilled Memberships
Member of the Society of Skilled Journalists and The American Political Science Affiliation