WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, America First Legal (AFL) released a compilation of documents and evidence from its investigation and formal judicial misconduct complaint against Rhode Island Federal Judge John McConnell, Jr., filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
AFL is sharing these primary sources, previously cited in its complaint, to make it easier for the public to review the evidence supporting the allegations.
In March, AFL exposed Judge McConnell’s apparent conflict of interest stemming from his decades-long involvement with the nonprofit Crossroads Rhode Island and his rulings in New York v. Trump. Later that month, AFL expanded its investigation into potential forum shopping by the plaintiff states to ensure their claims would come before Judge McConnell. In May, AFL filed a formal judicial misconduct complaint with the First Circuit, detailing Judge McConnell’s significant conflict of interest and irregular activity at Crossroads Rhode Island during his time on its board, including his tenure as Chair.
The investigative evidence released today includes property deeds, contracts, tax assessments, audits, and archival news clippings. In summary, on Judge McConnell’s watch:
- Crossroads Rhode Island purchased properties from a board member.
- The properties were purchased for hundreds of thousands of dollars above fair market value.
- One of the transactions was never reported to the IRS.
- The board member and the properties were connected to Rhode Island’s infamous “bribes for leases” and embezzlement scandals in the 1990s.
- Crossroads Rhode Island failed an independent financial audit that found it lacked internal controls.
This deeply concerning evidence reflects poorly on Judge McConnell’s judgment. Combined with his conflict of interest in presiding over New York v. Trump, there are more than sufficient grounds for the appropriate authorities to question his fitness for the federal bench.
“These documents show that AFL’s complaint is well sourced in contemporary news reports, property filings, and Crossroads’ own tax filings and audits. There can be no question as to the facts underlying the complaint and it is up to the appropriate authorities to take action,” said Andrew Block, Senior Counsel for America First Legal.
Read the judicial misconduct complaint here.
Read the supplementary appendix here.
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Photo Credit / Adobe Stock: addymawy
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