Republicans escalate complaints against judges in Trump-funded freeze

First on Fox: A pair of Republican oversight hawks raised a complaint Tuesday about a district court judge who presided over a case in the Trump administration that accused the judge of having a financial conflict of interest.

Rep. Jim Jordan of R-Ohio and R-Calif, chairman and member of the House Judiciary Committee. judicial According to a letter from Fox News, the First Circuit Court of Appeals Committee investigates Judge John McConnell.

Obama-appointed McConnell has been hosting key fund freeze cases in Rhode Island brought by 22 states and the Democratic Attorney General. The case centered on an order from the Office of Management and Budget, where federal agencies implemented billions of dollars in federal benefits.

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State lawsuits argue that the frozen funds are illegal because Congress has approved the use of funds. McConnell agreed to the states and blocked the government from suspending funds, the case now sits in the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

McConnell wrote in March order Trump administration The funding moratorium “fundamentally undermines the unique constitutional role of every branch of our government.”

The judge said the freezing lacked “reasonability” and did not show “consideration of actual consequences” because it threatened the state’s “ability to provide important services, including but not limited to public safety, health care, education, parenting and transportation infrastructure.”

Issa and Jordan said McConnell held a long-term leadership role at Crossroads Rhode Island, where Rhode Island received millions of dollars in federal and state grants, raising the possibility of violating judicial ethics.

Jordan and Isa wrote: “Given the crossroads’ reliance on federal funds, the impact of Judge McConnell’s ruling is the recovery of funds at the intersection, benefiting the organization directly and creating a conflict of interest.”

Their letter was directed to Judge David Barron, Chief Justice of the First Circuit and Chairman of the First Circuit Judicial Committee.

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Judge John McConnell (U.S. Rhode Island District Court)

When McConnell was involved in the fund freeze case, he quickly became one of Trump’s judicial core. His initial orders blocked the freeze and subsequent orders to enforce his ban and cancelled FEMA funds, prompting criticism from Trump allies.

The United States, a group that is consistent with Trump, was first legally legitimate through its own investigation and complaints about the First Tour, highlighting McConnell’s link to the crossroads of Rhode Island for months.

R-Ga. Rep. Andrew Clyde submitted Impossible Opposition to judges in March, although the Impotence each was to address the solution of judges involved by Republicans, it did not receive widespread support in the broader Republican meeting.

Rep. Andrew Clyde’s Housing Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing at the U.S. Capitol on March 24, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)

Vocal Trump supporter Laura Loomer targeted the judge’s daughter on social media, and X CEO Elon Musk raised her complaint on the platform.

One of McConnell’s local newspapers, Providence Journal, described the judge as a “famous” in the democratic politics, a major donor to Democratic politicians and organizations, who was then identified as the bench in 2011.

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McConnell included Rhode Island and his membership as a board member in his most recent public annual financial disclosure report. No political party in the case actively seeks his scrutiny at this stage.

The judge’s aide did not respond to a request for comment.