ACCESSING CLASSIFIED FILES
Decrypting documents...
Your connection is being monitored
Back to Individuals
critical risk
Leonard Leo
Co-Chairman of the Federalist Society
Architect of the conservative Supreme Court supermajority who funneled $1.6 billion in dark money through a network of nonprofits to reshape the federal judiciary
Overview
Leonard A. Leo is the co-chairman of the Federalist Society and the architect of the most successful judicial takeover in American history. He personally advised Presidents on the selection of six conservative Supreme Court justices. In 2020, electronics magnate Barre Seid donated $1.6 billion to Leo's Marble Freedom Trust, the largest known donation to a political advocacy group in U.S. history. Leo controls a sprawling network of nonprofit organizations and shell entities that channel hundreds of millions in untraceable dark money to reshape the judiciary, fund legal challenges to regulations, and support conservative judicial nominees. The network includes the Judicial Crisis Network, the 85 Fund, CRC Advisors, and other entities. Between 2014 and 2022, Leo's network raised over $580 million. Leo personally received $80 million in compensation through his consulting firm CRC Advisors between 2016 and 2022. He played a central role in blocking Merrick Garland's nomination and rushed through Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Received $1.6 billion donation from Barre Seid - largest dark money donation in U.S. history
Personally collected $80M+ in consulting fees from his own network of nonprofits
Orchestrated blocking of Merrick Garland and rushing of Barrett confirmation
Network of shell nonprofits designed to hide donor identities from public
Connected to undisclosed gifts received by Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito
Funneled $400M+ in dark money to reshape federal judiciary over two decades
Related Investigations (41)
Arms Industry Lobbying & Campaign FinanceMilitary-Industrial Complex
Tier 4
highAIPAC and the Foreign Lobby Machine: How Foreign-Aligned Money Buys American PolicyForeign Influence / Electoral Corruption
Tier 4
highBillionaire EnablersOligarchy
Tier 4
criticalCampaign Finance CorruptionElection Corruption
Tier 1
criticalHarlan Crow Gift NetworkJudicial Corruption
Tier 4
criticalChristian NationalismPolitical Extremism
Tier 2
highThe Congressional Revolving Door: Legalized Corruption in WashingtonCongressional Corruption / Lobbying
Tier 4
highCitizens United: The Dark Money CoupFinancial Crime
Tier 2
criticalDark Money & Judicial CaptureCorruption
Tier 4
criticalDemocratic Backsliding in AmericaConstitutional Crisis
Tier 3
criticalDonor Crimes: When Political Money Comes From Criminal EnterpriseFinancial Crime
Tier 3
highDark Money in Local ElectionsGovernment Accountability
Tier 4
highDark Money NetworksPolitical Corruption
Tier 4
highDark Money in American PoliticsFinancial Crime
Tier 1
criticalElite Coordination: How the Powerful Align Against the PublicPower Structures
Tier 3
highThe Federalist SocietyFinancial Crime
Tier 2
criticalInsider Trading by Congressional MembersFinancial Crime
Tier 4
highJudicial Capture by Federalist SocietyInstitutional Corruption
Tier 1
criticalCongressional Insider Trading and Financial ConflictsGovernment Corruption
Tier 4
highThe Koch NetworkFinancial Crime
Tier 2
criticalLeonard Leo: Architect of the Conservative CourtDark Money
Tier 4
highLobbying, Dark Money, and the Corruption of American DemocracyPolitical Corruption
Tier 4
criticalLeonard Leo & The Dark Money CourtsFinancial Crime
Tier 2
criticalDark Money & Political Funding NetworksPolitical Finance
Tier 4
criticalSystemic Political Corruption in AmericaPolitical Corruption
Tier 4
criticalDark Money in American PoliticsPolitical Corruption
Tier 4
criticalPolitical Fraud and Campaign Finance CrimesPolitical Corruption
Tier 4
highPolitical Hoaxes and Manufactured CrisesMedia & Disinformation
Tier 4
highPolitical Hypocrisy ExposedPolitical Corruption
Tier 4
highPolitical Opportunism and Crisis ExploitationPolitical Corruption
Tier 4
highProject 2025Environmental
Tier 2
criticalChristian Nationalist Political MachinePolitical Extremism
Tier 2
highRepublican Dark Money NetworksPolitical Corruption
Tier 4
criticalThe Religious Right's Legal War: Reshaping American LawDark Money
Tier 2
highRevolving Door Lobbyist PipelineGovernment Corruption
Tier 4
criticalThe Overturn of Roe v. WadeHuman Rights
Tier 3
criticalSupreme Court Ethics ScandalJudicial Corruption
Tier 4
criticalSupreme Court Ethics ScandalJudicial Corruption
Tier 4
criticalSuper PAC Coordination ScandalsGovernment Corruption
Tier 4
criticalSupreme Court Ethics CrisisFinancial Crime
Tier 2
criticalThink Tank Dark Money InfluenceGovernment Corruption
Tier 4
criticalCriminal Charges & Violations
2 documented violations
26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)/(c)(4)Potential violations of nonprofit tax-exempt status through political activity (under investigation)(federal)
52 U.S.C. 30121Potential dark money violations of federal election law (not charged)(federal)
Known Associates & Connections
Clarence Thomas
Supreme Court justice; connected through gifts and network
Samuel Alito
Supreme Court justice nominated through Leo's pipeline
Barre Seid
Billionaire donor; $1.6B to Marble Freedom Trust
Harlan Crow
Billionaire donor in conservative judicial network
Sources & Documentation
1 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- December 6, 1965
- Birthplace
- Monroe, New Jersey
- Also Known As
- Dark Money Kingpin
Education
- •Cornell University (A.B.)
- •Cornell Law School (J.D.)
Key Timeline
1991
Joins Federalist Society
2005
Advises Bush on Alito and Roberts nominations
2016-03
Orchestrates campaign blocking Merrick Garland
2017
Advises Trump on Gorsuch nomination
2018
Advises Trump on Kavanaugh nomination
2020-09
Advises Trump on Barrett nomination
2020
Receives $1.6 billion Barre Seid donation
2023
ProPublica exposes scope of dark money network