A federal judge who recently blocked the Trump administration’s financial policies has a long record of donating to Democratic politicians, with his contributions totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Judge John J. McConnell Jr., appointed by Barack Obama in 2011, has financially backed numerous high-profile Democrats.
Prior to becoming a judge, McConnell worked as a personal injury attorney and was an active donor to Democratic candidates and PACs. Records show he contributed to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Richardson’s presidential campaigns. His donations also supported Senate candidates like Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), as well as House Democrats across multiple states.
McConnell’s involvement in Democratic fundraising has come under renewed scrutiny following his ruling against the Trump administration. The administration had moved to temporarily halt federal spending to reassess funding priorities, but McConnell blocked the pause, issuing a temporary restraining order. He later reinforced the ruling, mandating the immediate release of billions in frozen funds.
Critics have pointed out that McConnell’s ruling aligns with Democratic attorneys general from 22 states who challenged the funding freeze. His order also directly benefits spending initiatives tied to Biden-era legislation, raising concerns that his political history may be influencing his judicial decisions.
Beyond his political donations, McConnell has been involved in progressive legal advocacy. In 2022, he hosted a judicial seminar that included a panel on critical race theory and systemic power structures in the legal system. The event was met with backlash from conservatives, who viewed it as evidence of McConnell’s ideological leanings.
The Trump administration has vowed to appeal McConnell’s decision, arguing that the executive branch has the authority to conduct financial reviews. Meanwhile, McConnell has warned that failure to comply with his ruling could result in criminal contempt charges.
