REPORT: Judge who ruled against Trump funding freeze has ties to taxpayer-funded homeless org

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From the New York Post: A Rhode Island federal judge who blocked President Trump’s sweeping freeze on federal assistance earlier this year has been slapped with a complaint from a conservative legal group alleging that he could benefit from his decision.

Providence US District Judge John McConnell sat on the board of Crossroads Rhode Island, a homeless services provider that has benefited from federal assistance, from 2006 to at least 2023, the nonprofit’s tax records show. Between 2011 and 2021, the judge served as the board’s chairman.

America First Legal, which began digging into McConnell’s past after he issued a preliminary injunction halting Trump’s freeze earlier this year, argued in a complaint filed to the Boston-based 1st Circuit Court of Appeals that the judge’s ties to Crossroads pose a conflict of interest.

The Trump-aligned legal group is pleading with the appeals court to “take all appropriate action to resolve these issues.”

McConnell was appointed by President Barack Obama.

America First Legal laid out their case in a series of posts on X Wednesday evening, as follows:

BREAKING — AFL just filed a judicial complaint against Judge John McConnell, the federal judge blocking President Trump’s spending freeze. He led a nonprofit set to gain millions from his ruling — a blatant conflict of interest and ethics violation. He must be investigated.

This complaint follows AFL’s explosive discovery that Judge McConnell continued to preside over a case despite a clear conflict of interest.

Now, AFL’s investigation has uncovered even more deeply concerning details…

Judge McConnell is presiding over New York v. Trump, a lawsuit brought by 21 states and D.C. challenging President Trump’s temporary freeze on federal funding.

In February, he ordered taxpayer money to continue flowing to the states, including to Crossroads Rhode Island, where he served as a board member and board chairman over a span of nearly 20 years.

Crossroads Rhode Island received at least $128 million in federal funds during Judge McConnell’s time on its board. His recent ruling ensures the nonprofit will now receive millions more.

This week, AFL presented its investigative findings to Chief Judge David Barron of the First Circuit Court and formally requested an official investigation into Judge McConnell’s conduct.

AFL’s complaint alleges Judge McConnell has violated multiple Canons of Judicial Conduct, and may have breached his fiduciary duty as a longtime board member of Crossroads Rhode Island. Here are the details…

Judge McConnell holds a significant conflict of interest between his duty to Crossroads Rhode Island, where he served as a board member for decades, and his obligation as a federal judge to avoid even the appearance of impropriety or bias in adjudicating cases.

While he was Chairman of the Board of Directors, Judge McConnell oversaw Crossroads Rhode Island’s purchase of two properties — both purchased from a sitting board member at prices far above fair market value.

One of those transactions was never reported to the IRS.

The properties purchased and the board member who sold them are tied to two infamous Rhode Island public corruption scandals:

➡️ The Governor Edward DiPrete bribery scandal
➡️ The Rhode Island Banking Crisis

This raises significant concerns about Judge McConnell’s judgment.

AFL has discovered that Crossroads Rhode Island operates housing developments through for-profit subsidiaries that funnel 99% of profits to unnamed “partners.”

According to homeless individuals in Providence, Crossroads Rhode Island’s homeless facilities have been a haven for drugs and violence — failing this vulnerable community it was meant to serve, all while Judge McConnell sat on the board with a duty to uphold its mission.

AFL urges the First Circuit to immediately investigate Judge McConnell’s conduct and these serious conflicts of interest and ethics violations.

READ MORE from the New York Post.

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