Complaint: Judge Who Barred Trump’s DEI Funding Freeze Had ‘Plain Conflict Of Interest’
Beth Brelje Visit on Twitter @BethBrelje
McConnell didn’t mention he is a board member at the $31 million nonprofit Crossroads Rhode Island, which is largely funded by federal dollars.
In March, congressional Republicans formally called for the impeachment of Rhode Island Federal Judge John McConnell Jr. This week, America First Legal (AFL) filed a judicial complaint against him, asking Chief Judge David Barron of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to investigate McConnell.
The AFL complaint describes “apparent conflicts of interest and violations of judicial ethics requirements.” The Federalist has previously detailed some of those concerns.
McConnell presides over the New York v. Trump case in which 22 states and the District of Columbia complained that it was unconstitutional for the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to place a temporary pause on funding, grants, loans, and other financial assistance programs while OMB assessed the programs to make sure taxpayer money was not used to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
They wanted the money unfettered, no questions asked, and McConnell sided with the states by ordering the administration to keep the money flowing.
McConnell didn’t mention that he is a long-time board member and leader at the $31 million nonprofit Crossroads Rhode Island, which gets over half its funding from federal money, largely filtered through state programs. It is a low-income housing developer that aims to address homelessness and dabbles in real estate.