John,

Remember Leonard Leo? Over the last 30 years he has become one of the most powerful people in America’s conservative movement, without ever being confirmed or elected.

He helped push the Supreme Court nominations of Justices Thomas, Roberts, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Coney Barrett–every conservative on the court–and received the largest dark money contribution ever at $1.6 billion.

President Trump may have soured on Leo recently, but meanwhile Leo’s firm continues to rake in tens of millions of dollars from his dark money network.

According to a new CREW analysis, Leo’s firm CRC Advisors brought in over $33 million in a single year—nearly $26 million of which came from nonprofits tied directly to Leo himself.

That’s not public service. That’s self-enrichment.

John, nonprofits are not supposed to be used for political operatives like Leo to personally enrich themselves. But that’s exactly what Leonard Leo is doing.

From 2016 to 2023, firms tied to Leo have raked in more than $135 million from allied groups—over $116 million of which came from groups with direct ties to Leo.

As the cash has started to roll in, Leo appears to have started living a life of luxury:

• Paying off a mortgage decades before it was due,
• Buying an 11-bedroom house in Maine for $3.3 million,
• Purchasing a wine locker at Morton’s Steakhouse,
• and hiring the chief steward from the then-Trump International Hotel to be his personal wine buyer.

He also has begun using his vast wealth to fund film and TV projects as a part of his broader effort to reshape American culture in his own conservative image.

When asked what services his firms actually provide, Leo refuses to say. He also refused to cooperate with an investigation into his self dealing opened by the D.C. Attorney General.

John, let’s be clear: Nonprofits exist to serve the public—not to bankroll the lavish lifestyle of one powerful man.

CREW is working to uncover and track the money flowing into Leonard Leo’s businesses.

Thank you,

CREW HQ