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Person

Leonard Leo

Affiliation:

Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies
Former Chairman:

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Alma Mater:

Cornell University Law School
Wife:

Sally Leo

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Leonard A. Leo is the co-chairman of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies. 1 Leo is perhaps most notable for playing a role in the confirmation of six right-leaning justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. 2

Leo has a network of loosely affiliated nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies that promote right-of-center policies and candidates. Critics refer to the nonprofits as “dark money” groups because they are not required to disclose donors. 3

Leo served as chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom under the George W. Bush administration. 4

Background

Leonard A. Leo is the co-chairman of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies. He is also a former executive vice president of the organization, which claims about 70,000 members. 5

Leo formed a chapter of the Federalist Society at Cornell University while attending law school in 1989.  After law school, Leo did a clerkship on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. After that, he went to work fulltime for the Federalist Society in 1991. 6

In 2004, Leo was a strategist on the re-election campaign of then-President George W. Bush. 7 After the 2016 election, Leo was also a member of the Donald Trump presidential transition team. 8

Leo is the co-editor of Presidential Leadership: Rating the Best and the Worst in the White House, published in coordination with the Federalist Society and the Wall Street Journal. 9

During a 2018 Federalist Society event, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas jokingly called Leo “the No. 3 most powerful person in the world.” 10 Justice Thomas is the godfather of one of Leo’s children. 11

The Campaign for Accountability, a liberal group previously aligned with Arabella Advisors, claims from 2006 through 2016 that Leo earned between $305,000 and $435,000 annually. 12

Supreme Court Nominations

Leonard Leo played a role in six the appointment of six Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court. Leo took leave from the Federalist Society to help in the confirmation of Clarence Thomas, nominated by George H.W. Bush to the Supreme Court in 1991. 13

He organized support for the Supreme Court nominations of eventual Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court by President George W. Bush. 14

In 2016, Leo helped create a list of 11 potential Supreme Court nominees from which then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promised to select. 15 Leo advised Trump on nominations and assisted with the confirmations of Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. 16

Diplomatic Positions

President George W. Bush appointed Leonard Leo to three terms as chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. 17 While on the commission, he traveled to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Sudan, and Vietnam to assess country conditions on religious freedom. 18

During the George W. Bush administration, Leo was also a U.S. delegate to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. 19

Leo also represented the United States to the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe and at the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization. 20

Leo was an observer at the World Intellectual Property Organization and as a member of the U.S. National Commission to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO. 21

Political Advocacy Network

Leo is involved with a network of loosely affiliated nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies. The New York Times reported that nonprofit entities have paid millions to for-profit entities with which Leo is involved, including CRC Advisors, a Northern Virginia public relations firm, and the BH Group, a consulting firm. 22

Leo’s network of nine core groups spent $504 million on policy and politics between 2015 and 2021, according to the Times. Leo told the New York Times: “I had a couple of decades or more of experience rolling back liberal dominance in the legal culture, and I thought it was time to take the lessons learned from that and see whether there was a way to roll back liberal dominance in other areas of American cultural, policy and political life.” 23

Leo’s network of nonprofit organizations includes or has included the Rule of Law Trust, 85 Fund, Concord Fund, Freedom and Opportunity Fund, Wellspring Committee, and Marble Freedom Trust. 24

The 85 Fund or the Concord Fund, but the two organizations combined paid more than $7.4 million to the BH Group and more than $41 million to CRC Advisors, according to the New York Times. 25

In 2020, electronics magnate Barre Seid gave $1.6 billion to the Marble Trust. 26 27 Left-wing investigative journalism outfit Pro Publica referred to the $1.6 billion contribution from Seid as the “largest-known political advocacy donation in U.S. history”; 28 though Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard would surpass that amount with a contribution valued at roughly $3 billion to the environmentalist Holdfast Collective in 2022. 29

Leo is chairman and trustee of Marble Freedom Trust, which he launched in 2021. 30

Marble Freedom Trust gave $153 million to the Rule of Law Trust, which Leo established in 2018. It is described as a nonprofit funding hub, and raised more than $80 million by 2023. 31 32

The Honest Elections Project, a conservative-leaning election monitoring and election-administration policy organization, is an initiative of the 85 Fund. 33

Funding Projects

Leonard Leo’s network has given $1.9 million to the Ethics and Public Policy Center; $565,000 to Concerned Women for America; $550,000 to the Becket Fund; and $6.5 million to the Republican Attorneys General Association. 34

Leo was an adviser to Judicial Education Project, a nonprofit that was involved producing a feature-length documentary film, Created Equal, about Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. 35

BH Group donated $1 million to the President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural committee. 36

The 85 Fund contributed $400,000 in 2020 to the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a right-leaning legal group that focuses on election integrity. 37

Investigations

In April 2023, the Campaign for Accountability filed an IRS complaint alleging Leo caused nonprofits “to pay him (directly or indirectly) more than $73 million over a six-year period from 2016 through 2021.” 38 The Campaign for Accountability began as a project fiscally sponsored by Hopewell Fund, an arm of the Arabella Advisors network. It has since spun off into an independent organization. 39

After making the IRS complaint, the Campaign for Accountability also wrote the District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb (D) requesting an investigation into Leo. 40 Schwalb opened an investigation into Leo and his network. Both Schwalb and his deputy attorney general Seth Rosenthal are reported to have ties to Arabella Advisors. 41

Personal Life

Leo and his wife, Sally, live in Northern Virginia. They have seven children. 42 Leo has said that his pro-life views derive in part from his daughter Margaret dying at age 14 from complications of spina bifida. 43

He is a New Jersey native and grandson of an Italian immigrant who worked for Brooks Brothers. 44

Leo was a founding board member of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast and a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a Catholic lay religious order. 45

References

  1. “Leonard Leo.” Federalist Society. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
  2. The Weekly Staff. “The hidden architect of the Supreme Court.” The Week. July 29, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://theweek.com/leonard-leo/1025358/the-hidden-architect-of-the-supreme-court
  3.  Vogel, Kenneth. “Leonard Leo Pushed the Courts Right. Now He’s Aiming at American Society.” Politico. October 12, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/us/politics/leonard-leo-courts-dark-money.html
  4. “Leonard Leo.” Federalist Society. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
  5.  “Leonard Leo.” Federalist Society. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
  6. Vogel, Kenneth. “Leonard Leo Pushed the Courts Right. Now He’s Aiming at American Society.” Politico. October 12, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/us/politics/leonard-leo-courts-dark-money.html
  7. “Leonard Leo.” Board of Visitors. Catholic University of America. Busch School of Business. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://business.catholic.edu/about-us/board-of-visitors/leo-leonard%20/index.html
  8. “Leonard Leo.” Federalist Society. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
  9. “Leonard Leo.” Federalist Society. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
  10. The Weekly Staff. “The hidden architect of the Supreme Court.” The Week. July 29, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://theweek.com/leonard-leo/1025358/the-hidden-architect-of-the-supreme-court
  11. The Weekly Staff. “The hidden architect of the Supreme Court.” The Week. July 29, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://theweek.com/leonard-leo/1025358/the-hidden-architect-of-the-supreme-court
  12. Smith, David. “Rightwing legal activist accused of misusing $73m from non-profit groups.” The Guardian. April 6, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/06/leonard-leo-watchdog-complaint-investigation
  13. The Weekly Staff. “The hidden architect of the Supreme Court.” The Week. July 29, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://theweek.com/leonard-leo/1025358/the-hidden-architect-of-the-supreme-court
  14. “Leonard Leo.” Federalist Society. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
  15. McGreal, Chris. “Leonard Leo: the secretive rightwinger using billions to reshape America.” The Guardian. September 4, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/04/leonard-leo-federalist-society-conservative-abortion
  16.  “Leonard Leo.” Federalist Society. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
  17. “Leonard Leo.” Federalist Society. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
  18. “Leonard Leo receives Benedict Leadership Award.” Catholic News Herald. April 11, 2018. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://catholicnewsherald.com/90-news/local/2964-leonard-leo-receives-benedict-leadership-award
  19.  “Leonard Leo.” Federalist Society. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
  20. The Editors. “D.C.’s Lawfare against Leonard Leo.” National Review. September 19, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/09/d-c-s-lawfare-against-leonard-leo/
  21. “Leonard Leo.” Board of Visitors. Catholic University of America. Busch School of Business. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://business.catholic.edu/about-us/board-of-visitors/leo-leonard%20/index.html
  22. [1] Vogel, Kenneth. “Leonard Leo Pushed the Courts Right. Now He’s Aiming at American Society.” Politico. October 12, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/us/politics/leonard-leo-courts-dark-money.html
  23. Vogel, Kenneth. “Leonard Leo Pushed the Courts Right. Now He’s Aiming at American Society.” Politico. October 12, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/us/politics/leonard-leo-courts-dark-money.html
  24. Smith, David. “Rightwing legal activist accused of misusing $73m from non-profit groups.” The Guardian. April 6, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/06/leonard-leo-watchdog-complaint-investigation
  25. Vogel, Kenneth. “Leonard Leo Pushed the Courts Right. Now He’s Aiming at American Society.” Politico. October 12, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/us/politics/leonard-leo-courts-dark-money.html
  26. The Weekly Staff. “The hidden architect of the Supreme Court.” The Week. July 29, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://theweek.com/leonard-leo/1025358/the-hidden-architect-of-the-supreme-court
  27. Vogel, Kenneth P. and Goldmacher, Shane. “Complex $1.6 Billion Donation Enriches Conservative War Chest,” New York Times, August 23, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/22/us/politics/republican-dark-money.html
  28. Kroll, Andy. “Conservative Activist Poured Millions Into Groups Seeking to Influence Supreme Court on Elections and Discrimination.” Pro Publica. December 14, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.propublica.org/article/leonard-leo-scotus-elections-nonprofits-discrimination
  29. Gelles, David. “Billionaire No More: Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company.” The New York Times, September 14, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/14/climate/patagonia-climate-philanthropy-chouinard.html.
  30.  “Leonard Leo.” Board. Napal Legal Institute. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/board/leonard-leo
  31. McGreal, Chris. “Leonard Leo: the secretive rightwinger using billions to reshape America.” The Guardian. September 4, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/04/leonard-leo-federalist-society-conservative-abortion
  32. Vogel, Kenneth. “Leonard Leo Pushed the Courts Right. Now He’s Aiming at American Society.” Politico. October 12, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/us/politics/leonard-leo-courts-dark-money.html
  33. Kroll, Andy. “Conservative Activist Poured Millions Into Groups Seeking to Influence Supreme Court on Elections and Discrimination.” Pro Publica. December 14, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.propublica.org/article/leonard-leo-scotus-elections-nonprofits-discrimination
  34. Kroll, Andy. “Conservative Activist Poured Millions Into Groups Seeking to Influence Supreme Court on Elections and Discrimination.” Pro Publica. December 14, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.propublica.org/article/leonard-leo-scotus-elections-nonprofits-discrimination
  35. Lee, Lloyd. “A film, websites, and even a Twitter fan account praising Clarence Thomas were all part of a coordinated public relations campaign backed by nonprofit groups tied to a Federalist Society chairman.” Business Insider. Jul 23, 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/leonard-leo-backed-pr-campaign-praising-clarence-thomas-wapo-2023-7
  36. Vogel, Kenneth. “Leonard Leo Pushed the Courts Right. Now He’s Aiming at American Society.” Politico. October 12, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/us/politics/leonard-leo-courts-dark-money.html
  37. Kroll, Andy. “Conservative Activist Poured Millions Into Groups Seeking to Influence Supreme Court on Elections and Discrimination.” Pro Publica. December 14, 2022. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.propublica.org/article/leonard-leo-scotus-elections-nonprofits-discrimination
  38. Pengelly, Martin. “Rightwing activist Leonard Leo under investigation in Washington DC.” The Guardian. August 24, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/24/leonard-leo-investigation-washington-dc
  39. Shoffstall, Joe. “DC attorney general targets conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo’s network: ‘Politically driven.’” Fox News. September 17, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dc-attorney-general-targets-conservative-judicial-activist-leonard-leos-network-politically-driven
  40. Pengelly, Martin. “Rightwing activist Leonard Leo under investigation in Washington DC.” The Guardian. August 24, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/24/leonard-leo-investigation-washington-dc
  41. The Editors. “D.C.’s Lawfare against Leonard Leo.” National Review. September 19, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/09/d-c-s-lawfare-against-leonard-leo/
  42. “Leonard Leo.” Federalist Society. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
  43.  The Weekly Staff. “The hidden architect of the Supreme Court.” The Week. July 29, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://theweek.com/leonard-leo/1025358/the-hidden-architect-of-the-supreme-court
  44. Burleigh, Nina. “Who Is Leonard Leo’s Mysterious Dark Money King?” The New Republic. May 16, 2023. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://newrepublic.com/article/172480/barre-seid-leonard-leo-dark-money-king
  45. “Leonard Leo.” Board of Visitors. Catholic University of America. Busch School of Business. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://business.catholic.edu/about-us/board-of-visitors/leo-leonard%20/index.html
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