Chuck Darwin<p>The movement’s triumphs are now visible but its engine remains hidden: <br>A billion-dollar network of groups, most of which are registered as tax-exempt charities or social welfare organizations. </p><p>Taking advantage of gaps in disclosure laws, they shield the identities of most of their donors and some of the recipients of the funds. </p><p>Among those who’ve been paid by the groups are leading thinkers and individuals with close personal ties to <a href="https://c.im/tags/Leonard" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Leonard</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Leo" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Leo</span></a> — including a whopping $7 million to a group run by a close friend and his wife. </p><p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>Few are aware of the extent to which the movement’s baby steps were taken in concert with <a href="https://c.im/tags/Ginni" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Ginni</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Thomas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Thomas</span></a>.</p><p>Two months before the <a href="https://c.im/tags/CitizensUnited" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CitizensUnited</span></a> decision, but after the justices had signaled their intentions by requesting new arguments, attorney <a href="https://c.im/tags/Cleta" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Cleta</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Mitchell" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Mitchell</span></a> — 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. </p><p>Leo was one of two directors listed on a separate application to conduct business in the state of Virginia. </p><p>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, <a href="https://c.im/tags/SarahField" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SarahField</span></a>, would come aboard to help Thomas manage the group, which they called <a href="https://c.im/tags/LibertyCentral" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>LibertyCentral</span></a>.</p><p><a href="https://c.im/tags/darkmoney" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>darkmoney</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/clarencethomas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>clarencethomas</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/samuelalito" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>samuelalito</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/abortionban" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>abortionban</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/scotus" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>scotus</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/MoneyIsNotSpeech" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MoneyIsNotSpeech</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/CorporationsAreNotPeople" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CorporationsAreNotPeople</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/10/ginni-thomas-leonard-leo-citizens-united-00108082" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">politico.com/news/2023/09/10/g</span><span class="invisible">inni-thomas-leonard-leo-citizens-united-00108082</span></a></p>