Supreme Court Puppetmaster Tries to Buy Protection in Congress

[Galraedia]

Source: Rolling Stone

For months now, Leonard Leo - a conservative legal activist with a billion-dollar slush fund and an influential hand in the workings of the Supreme Court - has been refusing to comply with a Senate subpoena regarding his financial relationship with Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

Senate Democrats sent the subpoena six months ago, but they haven't moved to enforce it. Doing so would require 60 votes under the Senate's filibuster rules, and Republicans have no intent of helping Democrats scrutinize the activities of one of their most important allies.

The stakes of this year's congressional races are high for Leo. According to federal and state campaign finance records reviewed by Rolling Stone, Leo has been quietly dumping millions of dollars into competitive down-ballot races which - if Republicans manage to take control of Congress - could provide him with legal protection from congressional oversight.

Leo has been a staple in Republican judicial politics for decades. He's served as a top executive at the Federalist Society for more than 25 years, and masterminds a network of conservative dark money groups - including the Concord Fund - dedicated to influencing judicial appointments and the cases that judges hear. As Donald Trump's judicial adviser, Leo was heavily involved in securing the appointments of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/supreme-court-puppetmaster-tries-to-buy-protection-in-congress/ar-AA1sWuup?

[Jerry2144]

1. That f ucker needs a 100% wealth tax

Than a life in prison sentence for his distraction of our freedom

[paleotn]

8. He deserves far, far worse.

[ck4829]

25. Indeed

[PortTack]

2. Money can only do so much...congress will go back blue!

[BoRaGard]

3. What does it profit a republicon if he should gain the whole world

and lose his soul?

Sad to see how the republicons have kissed off their honor for money and power.

[erronis]

4. Rec for that great line. Even though we knew they are soulless at birth.

[Mr.Bill]

7. This man has no soul.

None of them do.

[calimary]

10. They don't care.

I bet if anybody asks them about it, they’re likely to say “I’ll be dead by then.”

[GiqueCee]

21. Years ago...

... I worked for a guy who said, when asked how selfish acts might affect future generations, "Fuck 'em. What has posterity ever done for ME?" And he was serious.

[Hotler]

14. Like Thanos in Avengers end Game when young Gamora asks him what was the cost and he said, everything.

[Lonestarblue]

5. Leo is also responsible for helping Trump pack the federal courts with right-wing extremist Catholics and evangelicals.

I think he is also a member of Opus Dei working to replace secular law with evangelical Biblical law.

[slightlv]

12. He is Opus Dei, and a dangerous adherent, at that

because he has SO much money. But it's gonna set up an interesting "from the sidelines" viewing. You have Leo and his Opus Dei people, which are sprinkled throughout the government departments and courts, and then you have the NAR (National Apostolic Reformation) which are also theocratic and sprinkled throughout the government. The full aim of the NAR is control of government and society, based on their "7 Mountains" theological creed. The only thing comparable about the two sects are they are both offshoots of Christianity, and they're both hellbent on controlling the America, at the very least. They'd really like to control the world. Their theologies are not exactly the same, however... so it'll be interesting who comes out on top... will it be Opus Dei, or will it be the NAR? No matter which one, WE lose.

[SharonAnn]

6. The real issue is that he is the "front man" for Opus Dei, the right-wing, conservative, fascist Catholics.

Their world-wide goal is to control governments according to their theocratic beliefs of the way the world "should be". A lot like the Taliban.

I have family members who are involved with them. It's a very scary organization and incredibly powerful. Many, many government people and other influential people are connected with them in one way or another.

[Frank D. Lincoln]

11. This post deserves to be an opening post with its own thread. nt

[FakeNoose]

16. I was raised Catholic and I know what Opus Dei is

But I think there are many on DU who might benefit from a quickie lesson. Mainly because this group has been influencing (or trying to influence) American politics for so many years, but also because DUers who invoke the term "Opus Dei" rarely explain what this group stands for and what their aims are.

In a weird, strange way the Opus Dei people have a lot in common with the ultra-conservative Evangelical/Religious Right even though each group sort of hates the other one. They are both so lost in their own superstitions, and they both believe they're working to bring about the "end of the world" as described in the Book of Revelations.

Neither group gives a shit about preserving our Constitution or our American government. It seems that Opus Dei members have many financial resources and they tend to work undercover and behind the scenes whenever possible. This guy Leonard Leo has become sort of a public figure, but only recently. The Opus Dei believe the Israel-Hamas war is a big factor for bringing on the Apocalypse. There's a lot more to this, I'm just hitting on the highlights here.

[Frank D. Lincoln]

17. Wow. Thanks for that information.

When I have more time, I really need to do a lot of research about Opus Dei.

[SharonAnn]

18. They kep removing info about them froom the web. Fortunately I've saved some stuff that was there.

They're kind of like Scientology. They work very hard to stay under the radar. you can find out about them. but it's not as easy as it used to be.

Check out odan.org. The Opus Dei Awareness network. It's a start.

[Frank D. Lincoln]

19. Thank you very much for that, SharonAnn. nt

[FakeNoose]

23. Yes - Scientology for Catholics

That's a good way to put it. Thanks for the link to ODAN!

[KS Toronado]

9. If Leo is able to avoid congressional oversight, DOJ where are you?

[Hotler]

15. In night court working from the bottom up.

[lostnfound]

20. He said he was going to take over corporate boards too...and i think it is happening ALOT

Three guys were on the letter from Sheldon Whitehouse: Leo, Arkley and Singer. https://www.propublica.org/article/senators-ask-paul-singer-leonard-leo-accounting-gifts-supreme-court

I’ve been watching board members get replaced under duress from “activist investors” right and left.. Singer hates ESG and DEI, wants companies to focus only on profits (not community, employees or global warming), and his hedge fund uses a shake and bake or bullying technique to force changes on boards.

Whenleonard Leo says he wants to do the same thing to corporate boards as he did to the courts, i wonder if there is a connection.

[GiqueCee]

22. Leo is an evil man...

... and with all his wealth, he could be doing some good, but instead, he works to pervert justice, corrupt principles and gut essential institutions. The nation – and the world – would be better off without him.

[ck4829]

24. Disgusting

[gab13by13]

26. Does Schumer need 60 votes to send a criminal complaint to DOJ?

If not, why hasn't he done so?