Conservative donors are funneling 'dark money' toward a SCOTUS case that could drastically alter US voting laws

Conservative donors are directing "tens of millions of dollars" in dark money to groups backing Republican lawmakers in favor of a U.S. Supreme Court case that could negatively impact American voter laws.

In a new analysis published by The Guardian, reporter Peter Stone offered a breakdown of Moore v Harper and its potential impact. "The donors backed several groups that have filed supreme court amicus briefs in support of North Carolina legislators in Moore v Harper, according to a recent analysis," Stone wrote.

He added, "They are pushing for a ruling that would take ultimate decisions about voting rights and congressional gerrymandering away from state courts and hand those powers to state legislatures, of which Republicans now control the majority."

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Further elaborating on the case, Stone wrote:

"Sparked by a North Carolina gerrymandering fight, Moore v Harper has attracted strong opposition from many liberal and some conservative legal experts, who call it a partisan attack on voting rights by prominent conservative groups. Opponents of the case say they’re using a discredited legal theory to boost GOP political fortunes in coming elections."

He also noted, "Eight conservative groups that submitted amicus briefs in the supreme court case have received close to $90m from dark money donors since 2016, according to Accountable.US, a liberal-leaning watchdog group that tracks government corruption."

In the wake of the latest developments, conservative groups have faced criticism for their efforts. "Critics of the right’s drive to push the independent state legislature theory note the strong influence of well-financed conservative groups along with several like-minded justices," he wrote.

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Speaking to The Guardian, Thomas Wolf, deputy director at the Brennan Center for Justice, also weighed in with his concerns saying, “The ISLT [independent state legislature theory] has been fueled by several conservative justices’ dissents, and other statements, coupled with amicus briefs and public arguments supporting the theory from think tanks, litigation shops, and partisan political organizations.”

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