#libertycentral — Public Fediverse posts

Instead of resolving the case along the lines argued by the lawyers, the justices took the unusual step of asking for re-arguments based on a sweeping question — whether they should #overrule prior decisions approving laws that limited #spending on #political campaigns.

The re-argument took place on Sept 9, 2009. Two months later, on Nov 6, #CletaMitchell filed an IRS application on behalf of #GinniThomas to form the group that became #LibertyCentral Inc.

A key #LeonardLeo aide, Sarah Field, would come aboard to help #GinniThomas manage the group, which they called #LibertyCentral.

After Liberty Central went public, it provoked an outcry over a #SCOTUS justice’s wife promoting causes like overturning #Obamacare that were before her husband’s court. Leo & Thomas changed gears. His network reactivated a dormant group, the #JudicialEducationProject, which would go on to become a major supplier of #AmicusBriefs before the nation’s highest court.

The movement’s triumphs are now visible but its engine remains hidden:
A billion-dollar network of groups, most of which are registered as tax-exempt charities or social welfare organizations.

Taking advantage of gaps in disclosure laws, they shield the identities of most of their donors and some of the recipients of the funds.

Among those who’ve been paid by the groups are leading thinkers and individuals with close personal ties to #Leonard #Leo — including a whopping $7 million to a group run by a close friend and his wife.

They also include a for-profit business for which Leo himself is chairman and which received tens of millions of dollars from his nonprofit network.

Leo’s role as the central figure in this movement has long been known, culminating in his acquisition last year of what many believe to be the largest political donation in history.

Few are aware of the extent to which the movement’s baby steps were taken in concert with #Ginni #Thomas.

Two months before the #CitizensUnited decision, but after the justices had signaled their intentions by requesting new arguments, attorney #Cleta #Mitchell — later to play a role in Donald Trump’s false claims about the 2020 elections — filed papers for Ginni Thomas to create a nonprofit group of a type that ultimately benefited from the decision.

Leo was one of two directors listed on a separate application to conduct business in the state of Virginia.

Thomas was president. She signed it on New Year’s Eve of 2009, and Crow provided much of the initial cash. A key Leo aide, #SarahField, would come aboard to help Thomas manage the group, which they called #LibertyCentral.

#darkmoney #clarencethomas #samuelalito #abortionban #scotus #MoneyIsNotSpeech #CorporationsAreNotPeople

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/10/ginni-thomas-leonard-leo-citizens-united-00108082