Senator opening investigation into Federalist Society's link to 'dark money' used to pack the courts

[DonViejo]

Tom Boggioni
March 10, 2021

According to a report from Punchbowl News, now that the Democrats have control of the U.S. Senate, one senator plans to use his ascension to chair of the Judiciary Committee's Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights subcommittee to take a hard look at how "dark money" is being used to elevate conservative judges to lifetime federal appointments.

In particular, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) plans to focus on the Federalist Society which has long made recommendations to Republican presidents when it comes to critical appointments that can sway the balance of the courts.

With Punchbowl describing Whitehouse's plans as a "war" on the Federalist Society, the report notes that the Democrat has long been seeking to dig into the conservative group's influence.

Reporting that Wednesday's hearing is being called, "What's Wrong with the Supreme Court: The Big-Money Assault on Our Judiciary," the report states, "Whitehouse's target is the Federalist Society, which he says has been involved in a years' long effort to gain control of the federal judiciary -- especially the Supreme Court. It's a topic Whitehouse has railed about for awhile, including during the confirmation hearing for now-Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett."

more
https://www.rawstory.com/federalist-society-investigation/

You can read the Punchbowl report here -- subscription required.

[malaise]

1. Get thee to the greatest page

RFN!

[Wounded Bear]

2. This could get interesting...

[empedocles]

3. Very much so

[uponit7771]

7. +1

[pecosbob]

4. Go Sheldon!

We got your back.

[mopinko]

5. hope they trace who paid for those ads for justice beer boy.

[diane in sf]

31. And who paid off his massive debts and bought him membership in the country club. A friend of

mine is a government employee who lives in his neighborhood. She pointed out that his expenditures were way out of line with what his salaries had been.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

41. Yes!

[mopinko]

42. i remember watching them and doing an audible wtaf?

[dweller]

6. Link

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4914652/user-clip-sen-whitehouse-supreme-court-confirmation

Whitehouse lays it all out ...
✌🏻

[BComplex]

36. Holy shit!!! I just listened to all +/- 30 minutes of that presentation by Whitehouse!!

EVERY person in this country needs to listen to that. Holy shit!

I'm so glad he's on top of this!!!

Thanks for the link, dweller!

[dweller]

40. I watched on the day he gave his presentation

and found the link to save after ... chock full of info !

✌🏻

[hedda_foil]

8. I had no difficulty with Punchbowl without a subscription.

[spanone]

9. ⭐️K&R⭐️

[dalton99a]

10. Kick

[bucolic_frolic]

11. Our Democratic Senators work on actual issues

unlike the Republicans' investigations meant to stall, obfuscate, invent non-issues

[Bucky]

30. Well, tbf, they were willing to tackle important issues like Benghazi and...

...Benghazi, and Benghazi, and also Benghazi.

And now they're trying to protect the country from the menace of ©Antifa™ & Cancel Culture® and explore their probably links to Benghazi.

[SergeStorms]

32. Don't forget those dangerous....

Americans, Dr. Seuss and Mr. Potato Head!

[Botany]

12. Look @ the Judicial Crisis Network

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Judicial_Crisis_Network

They spent millions to stop Merrick Garland.

[Hortensis]

33. Oh, yes. GOOD reminder! Bastards.

[Tommymac]

13. Shine the Light Sen Whitehouse and watch them scurry about

Little bugs scuttling around in the dark corners of Our Democracy.

See them scurry and scuttle and try and find shadows to hide in.

Scuttle about.

Scuttle about.

All the QOP backers scuttling about.

[BComplex]

37. The link to Sen. Whitehouse's presentation when AC Barrett was getting confirmed just blew me

away.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4914652/user-clip-sen-whitehouse-supreme-court-confirmation

I had no idea how bad it was.

[SheltieLover]

14. Good!

[BobTheSubgenius]

15. I wish him great success with this!

Individuals and groups like the Federalist Society have been getting away with blatant manipulation for far too long.

[BComplex]

38. Whitehouse shows how every ruling helps dark money into our elections.

It's just a guess, but I'm wondering if this is how the russians managed to buy off all the trumplicans.

[lagomorph777]

16. Excellent!

[dhill926]

17. another BFD right here...

[aggiesal]

18. I'd like to know, who & how Supreme Court Justice Beer Kan's ...

debt of $60K to $200K was paid?

Also, was Justice Kennedy paid off to retire from SCOTUS to open up a
slot for Justice Beer Kan?

Smells waaaay toooo much like fish to me.

[lastlib]

22. DEAD fish.......

Yes, this NEEDS to be brought out!

- - - - - -

[zentrum]

19. Democrats are acting

.....more and more like the great Democrats of yore.

[Oldem]

20. Whitehouse's investigation could hardly be more important. The packed courts

from the dump/McConnell era are and will continue to be a major stumbling block to democratic progress and reform. Just take voting rights as one example.

But the problem, as I see it, is that any success the Senator and his committee might have might simply squeeze off Federalist Society influence, certainly a plus. I don't see how it can affect the composition of judges already elevated by dark money. Maybe they'll catch a judge or two in illegal activity. Who knows?

[Elessar Zappa]

23. I think if we can't expand the Supreme Court,

that we expand the lower federal courts. Some experts say we could double the amount of federal judges and be in a good place.

[Oldem]

24. I think expansion of courts is possible but dicey. It all depends

on whether or not Biden wants to spend political capital on the effort. It would stir up a hornets nest on the right, the likes of which we've not yet seen. Those people are rabid about Repealing Roe, gun rights, even voter suppression. People in WV and AZ would be up in arms, making it difficult, if not impossible for Manchin and Sinema to vote with Democratic senators.

Dems might prefer to wait till after 2022, hoping for a stronger Senate majority.

[Hortensis]

34. :) Isn't that even more a compelling argument for doing it?

We HAVE to stop them. Every gain they make only increases their belief that they can take everything and smash all opposition permanently. Every inch we allow them becomes failed appeasement.

Only one of the ways they strongly resemble their predecessors in the Germany of the Third Reich.

[BComplex]

39. We can show how 80+ decisions by the Robers court has been to allow dark money in politics

along party lines....which is showing that it's not about "justice".

[liberalmuse]

21. Good! I'd like to know who paid off Kavanaugh's debts.

I hope they blow the lid off this.

[SergeStorms]

25. Long overdue.

The Federalist Society has been a far right-wing thorn in the judicial system's side for too long. I'm sure the dark money comes from the usual suspects; Kochs, Mercers etc. Its time to shine a little light into that weasel's den.

[crickets]

27. +1000000

[mjvpi]

26. Senator Whitehouse is challenging the true religion of America

$$$$$.

[WhiteTara]

28. With Ossoff chair of the sub committee to investigate

this should get VERY interesting. He has the money and backing he needs to dig deep.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

29. Go Whitehouse !!!

He already laid it out, prove it and bury the guilty.

These people and judges have NO shame whatsoever.

[Hortensis]

35. Whitehouse for President! Joking, but it does mean I strongly approve.