A recent report by Politico has unveiled a disconcerting web of connections involving Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, conservative activist Leonard Leo, and a billionaire mega-donor, Harlan Crow. This intricate network of relationships sheds light on the behind-the-scenes efforts to exploit the 2010 Citizens United ruling, which dramatically altered the landscape of campaign finance in American politics and ushered in an era of unprecedented “dark money” influence.
The report highlights how Ginni Thomas, Leonard Leo, and Harlan Crow collaborated to form a group aimed at capitalizing on the Citizens United decision. Citizens United v. FEC, a landmark Supreme Court ruling, opened the door for unlimited corporate and union spending in elections, significantly reshaping the nation’s political landscape.
What is particularly striking is the timing of their actions. Liberty Central, a nonprofit organization, was incorporated with an initial $500,000 investment from Harlan Crow on December 31, 2009, just months before the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision was handed down on January 21, 2010. Justice Clarence Thomas notably objected to disclosure rules in that decision.
The report also highlights Ginni Thomas’s vocal involvement in far-right politics, including her support for Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Her active role in the political arena has fueled controversy, especially given Clarence Thomas’s refusal to recuse himself when cases related to election challenges reached the Supreme Court.
Furthermore, the report draws attention to the transformation of a Leonard Leo-linked group, the Judicial Education Project, which paid Ginni Thomas up to $100,000. This group evolved into a generator of amicus briefs to the court and became entangled in efforts to overturn Trump’s defeat as he sought a second term as president in 2020.
Connections between Leonard Leo and Ginni Thomas have raised eyebrows before, with Leo allegedly directing funds to her without mentioning her name directly. Ginni Thomas’s current entity, Liberty Consulting, is now under congressional scrutiny, with Senate Democrats demanding transparency regarding gifts and payments made by Leo and Crow to both her and her husband, Clarence Thomas.
Critics have voiced concerns over potential ethical violations and the influence of undisclosed dark money in the highest echelons of the judiciary. The revelation has prompted calls for investigations by the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Justice to ascertain whether any tax or criminal offenses have occurred.
Norman Ornstein, an emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, commented on the situation, stating, “This stinks to high heaven. We need the Internal Revenue Service and the justice department to investigate. It looks like tax offenses, criminal ones, not to mention the sheer corruption. Leonard Leo and Ginni Thomas are despicable.”
The implications of these revelations extend beyond mere political intrigue, touching upon the very foundations of transparency, ethics, and accountability within the judiciary. As the story continues to unfold, it underscores the ongoing debate over the role of money and influence in American politics and its far-reaching consequences.
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