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Today, The Guardian reported on troubling new connections based on Accountable.US findings, highlighting the troubling connections between Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and a secretive, ultra-conservative network deeply involved in reshaping the American judicial landscape. The report details Justice Alito’s acceptance of concert tickets from German Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, an aristocrat known for her extreme views and ties to right-wing organizations, including The Alliance Defending Freedom, which routinely appears before the High Court, and the Napa Legal Institute.

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When a Supreme Court justice like Samuel Alito pals around with influential right-wing figures like Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and Leonard Leo, it raises concerns about fairness and impartiality. These relationships aren’t just about gifts—they reflect a deeper effort to manipulate our legal system in ways that could impact the rights of everyday people. What’s disturbing is that this happens behind closed doors–at parties at the Bavarian castle– away from public scrutiny. We’re talking about relationships that can affect everything– from reproductive rights to environmental protections, the American people deserve a judiciary that serves justice impartially, not one that can be bought.”

Caroline Ciccone, President of Accountable US

Key Findings Include:

  • Justice Alito’s Financial Disclosure: In his latest financial disclosure, Justice Alito reported receiving $900 worth of concert tickets from Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis. While the disclosure does not specify the event, the princess has confirmed the tickets were for an annual summer celebration at her Bavarian castle. Princess Gloria has described the Alitos as “private friends.”
  • The Network Behind the Gift: Princess Gloria is connected to the Napa Institute, a conservative Catholic organization in the U.S. where Justice Alito has been involved alongside Justice Clarence Thomas. The Napa Institute’s mission is to equip Catholic leaders to “defend and advance” their faith in an increasingly secular world, and it is supported by influential conservative legal figures like Leonard Leo, who has been instrumental in reshaping the Supreme Court’s conservative majority.
  • Ties to Anti-LGBTQ and Anti-Abortion Movements: The reporting also explores Princess Gloria’s long history of incendiary remarks on reproductive rights, The Guardian reports “von Thurn und Taxis said European leaders were “financ[ing] the killing of our offspring” in an apparent reference to the availability of reproductive rights in Europe. She added: “Does this make any sense? Is there some kind of racism? Are we not supposed to reproduce?”
  • The Influence of Dark Money Networks: The report uncovers how dark money networks, championed by individuals like Leonard Leo and organizations such as the Alliance Defending Freedom, are linked to efforts to manipulate the judiciary. These networks are backing legal cases that could reshape the fabric of U.S. law, with a particular focus on curbing the power of federal agencies and undermining critical protections for Americans.

The new reporting paints a picture of an increasingly partisan judiciary that can be influenced and swayed more by the wealthy and elite than by the moral duty and obligation of the position they serve. Justice Alito’s ties to an entire network of wealthy and powerful far-right idealogues is only part of the issue. Justice Clarence Thomas is so brazen with his corruption that he has openly accepted luxury vacations, private jet flights, and other lavish gifts from billionaire donors with vested interests in the outcomes of Supreme Court rulings. This behavior, far from being an isolated incident, is emblematic of a larger issue: the creeping influence of dark money and elite networks in shaping the judiciary. The integrity of the Court is being compromised.

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