Conservative activist Leonard Leo, well-known for his work in reshaping the U.S. legal system, is now leading a huge $1 billion campaign to fight against what he sees as “liberal dominance” in corporate America, as well as in media and entertainment.
Leo, who played a big part in moving the Supreme Court to the right during President Trump’s presidency, said his nonprofit group, the Marble Freedom Trust, is ready to take on both the government and big businesses. He told the Financial Times, “We need to crush liberal dominance where it’s most insidious, so we’ll direct resources to build talent and capital formation pipelines in the areas of news and entertainment, where leftwing extremism is most evident.”
Leonard Leo is the architect of the rightward shift on the Supreme Court under Donald Trump. His non-profit advocacy group, the Marble Freedom Trust, now intends to take on the private sector in addition to the government https://t.co/oAgMrLAx24 pic.twitter.com/XrbwrthJVX
— Financial Times (@FT) September 9, 2024
He also said they will support groups that criticize companies and financial institutions that push “woke” ideologies, and make sure they pay for putting left-wing ideas above consumers.
Leo is a major player in conservative legal circles, especially known for his influence on getting conservative judges nominated, including Supreme Court Justices like Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. He’s had a big impact through his work with the Federalist Society, which promotes a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
Leo’s influence grew under the presidencies of George W. Bush and President Trump. He helped confirm three conservative justices to the Supreme Court during Trump’s time, which secured a conservative majority.
After Trump lost in 2020, Leo stepped back from his daily role in the Federalist Society, though he stayed as co-chair. In 2021, he launched Marble, backed by $1.6 billion from Barre Seid, an electronics mogul. Leo’s goal was to combat what he called the left’s “dark money.” Over its first three years, Marble spent about $600 million.
Leo’s mission is to find effective ways to bring back limited government and a society based on freedom, personal responsibility, and Western values. His new $1 billion push is focused on fighting liberal ideas in private companies, including diversity, equity, and climate issues. He’s also planning to invest in a local media company in the U.S. soon and is building conservative networks across the country through groups like the Teneo Network.
Although Marble supports Trump-aligned groups, Leo said the nonprofit is not trying to influence the 2024 presidential election directly. Instead, they’re more focused on helping Republicans win back the Senate from the Democrats.
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