Dark Money Group Received Massive Donation In Fight Against Obamas Supreme Court Nominee

[demmiblue]

Source: MapLight

A dark money organization that spent $7 million to block former President Obama’s Supreme Court pick received just three donations between 2015 and 2016, but one transaction really counted: A single $17.9 million contribution from a mystery donor.

The Judicial Crisis Network (JCN), a Washington, D.C.-based conservative nonprofit, saw its revenues explode as it ran ads thanking Republican senators who successfully prevented Merrick Garland, Obama’s pick to replace Antonin Scalia, from receiving a confirmation hearing. It also sent millions of dollars to nonprofits that worked to elect conservative state judicial candidates and attorneys general. Earlier this year, JCN spent $10 million on ads to help secure Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation.

The organization’s most recent tax return, covering July 2015 to June 2016, shows JCN’s anti-Garland spending spree was fueled by three contributions. The $17.9 million donation accounted for 96.6 percent of its revenue. Before the donation, the organization had never reported more than $6 million in revenue since its 2005 creation.

Read more: https://maplight.org/story/dark-money-group-received-massive-donation-in-fight-against-obamas-supreme-court-nominee/

[greymattermom]

1. That amount limits the possible sources

to... Mercers, Russia, anything else?

[SoCalNative]

4. Kochs

eom

[genxlib]

2. Aside from the size

It is such an oddly specific value. Once you are in for 17.92 wouldn't you go ahead and round up to 18 mil?

In the spirit of the internet, I am going to make up a story that could explain it and present it as fact.

I think it was donated in Rubles and the conversion rate made it be an odd amount. That is my story and I am sticking with it. Unless of course they want to disclose the check to change my mind.

[dalton99a]

3. +1