REPORT: Trump Lawyers Exposed As Leonard Leo Allies, Conservative Justice Defenders

Ahead of today’s oral arguments in the Trump v. Anderson case at the Supreme Court, Accountable.US released a new report exposing Trump’s lawyers as close allies to conservative kingpin Leonard Leo and leaders of multiple aggressive campaigns to advocate for and defend conservative Supreme Court justices from corruption crises.

The new report reveals several connections between the lawyers, justices, and Leo, the Supreme Court billionaire “matchmaker” involved in the case — sparking questions of impartiality for an already-compromised Court.

Key report highlights:

David Warrington, Trump’s counsel of record:

• While Warrington led the Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA), the group published countless articles loudly supporting conservative Justices Barrett, Roberts, Thomas, and Kavanaugh while hitting liberals’ so-called “smear machine.” The group also ran defense for Justice Kavanaugh amidst his nomination fight. RNLA is backed by Leo’s Concord Fund and by Ed Uihlein’s Restoration For America.
• Warrington, a contributor for Leonard Leo’s Federalist Society, was RNLA’s president when it launched Lawyers for Trump, also serving on its advisory board and tapping Leo to be among its “key leaders.”

Harmeet K. Dhillon, Trump counsel, managing partner of firm representing Trump:

• Dhillon was RNLA’s vice president of communications when it sent a letter urging Senate Judiciary Committee leaders to “promptly confirm” now-Justice Kavanaugh — and Dhillon personally signed the letter. Dhillon was also a part of RNLA’s leadership when it ran defense for Supreme Court Justices Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh, and Barrett amidst their serious ethics violations last year.
• Dhillon, a Federalist Society contributor, was RNLA chair when the group counted Dhillon’s firm and Leo’s Concord Fund as its sole two “gold sponsors” for its 2023 national policy conference. Dhillon was also a part of RNLA’s leadership when it launched Lawyers for Trump, with Dhillon serving as the group’s co-chair and with Leo serving among the group’s “key leaders.”

Jonathan Mitchell, Trump counsel:

• Mitchell, an active Federalist Society contributor and a former clerk for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, was on the guest list for a private luncheon “hosted” by Leo for the dedication of Antonin Scalia Law School in 2016. The law school was renamed after Scalia after Leo and then-Dean Henry Butler struck a $30 million deal with conservative donors. Since then, Scalia Law has become known as “an easy pass-through” for outside influence on the Supreme Court, with Dean Butler “on a texting basis” with several conservative justices.

Jay Sekulow, counsel of record for the Colorado Republican State Central Committee:

• Sekulow urged the Supreme Court to quickly hear Trump v. Anderson on behalf of the Colorado Republican party. In turn, Trump’s legal team has “echoed Sekulow’s warnings” that the Colorado Supreme Court’s Decision could be “a template to disenfranchise tens of millions of voters.”
• Sekulow, chief counsel of the right-wing American Center for Law And Justice (ACLJ), has been a longtime Board of Trustees member for the Supreme Court Historical Society, a “vehicle for those seeking access to” Supreme Court justices.The Supreme Society has regularly recognized Jay Sekulow and ACLJ for their donations and support, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Clarence Thomas presenting Sekulow awards on at least three different occasions.
• Sekulow worked to “sell” Chief Justice John Roberts’ nomination to Christian conservatives alongside Leonard Leo. Sekulow is currently listed as a Federalist Society contributor and has been featured in the group’s events as far back as 2007.

View the full report here.