JUST IN: Rogue Judge Blocking Trump Agenda Exposed As Democrat Megadonor

New revelations show that a federal judge responsible for blocking key Trump administration policies is a longtime Democratic mega-donor. Judge John J. McConnell Jr., appointed by former President Barack Obama, has a history of contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns and political action committees.

Judge McConnell, who has served as a U.S. District Judge in Rhode Island since 2011, was previously a personal injury lawyer. Records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) indicate that before taking the bench, he made significant donations to Democratic politicians, including former Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton.

His contributions also extended to Democratic PACs and various Senate and House campaigns. Public filings show that McConnell’s donations amount to several hundred thousand dollars, making him one of the more politically active federal judges in terms of campaign contributions.

McConnell has been a consistent donor to Democratic candidates and committees over multiple election cycles. His contributions primarily support Democratic congressional campaigns, national committees, and political action committees.

Some of the key recipients of his donations include the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rhode Island Hope PAC, and the Rhode Island Democratic State Committee. Additionally, he has contributed to the American Association for Justice Political Action Committee (AAJ PAC).

John J. McConnell, Jr.

McConnell’s financial support extends to several high-profile Democratic candidates at both the state and national levels. His contributions have gone toward presidential campaigns for Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Richardson.

In the Senate, he has backed Rhode Island incumbents Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). In the House of Representatives, his donations have supported candidates such as Patrick Kennedy (D-CA), James Langevin (D-RI), Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Joe Courtney (D-CT), and Betsy Markey.

While judicial ethics rules prohibit federal judges from making political donations once confirmed to the bench, McConnell’s past financial ties raise concerns about impartiality in high-profile cases, especially those involving Republican-led policies. Judge McConnell recently issued a ruling freezing federal funding pauses initiated by the Trump administration, a move that has sparked criticism from conservatives.

His decision grants a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the administration’s effort to halt federal disbursements. The case, brought by a coalition of Democratic-led states, challenged Trump’s executive order aimed at reviewing federal spending for inefficiencies.

The judge’s order said that “all orders and judgments of courts must be complied with promptly,” effectively barring the Trump administration from implementing a broad spending freeze. “Persons who make private determinations of the law and refuse to obey an order generally risk criminal contempt even if the order is ultimately ruled incorrect,” he wrote.

The ruling also mandates the immediate release of withheld federal funds, including those allocated under Biden-era legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act. This follows a pattern of judicial interventions against Trump’s policies.

McConnell has previously ruled against Trump administration initiatives, fueling concerns that his decisions may be influenced by political bias. In 2022, McConnell organized a conference that presented a distinctly progressive approach to racial justice for judges and attorneys.

The primary panel titled “Critical Race Theory: What It Is and What It Is Not” featured three distinguished scholars known for their support of critical race theory, according to National Review. The panel delved into “how the political, legislative, economic, and cultural system that has historically given white people significantly greater power and material resources has fundamentally shaped our courts and legal system.”

On Monday, McConnell took decisive action against the Trump administration by ordering the restoration of federal funds that had been previously frozen, aligning with a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued in January. The order reiterated that the administration must comply with congressionally mandated funding allocations. McConnell warned of possible criminal contempt charges should the administration fail to comply.