Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said Monday that if Neil Gorsuch wins confirmation to the Supreme Court it will ensure that “dark money” continues to have a negative influence on American politics.
Mr. Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, lamented during an appearance on CNN that the Supreme Court has handed down a series of a five-to-four rulings in favor of “dark money.”
“It is a disturbing array of partisan decisions,” the Rhode Island Democrat said, adding that Mr. Gorsuch has benefited from campaigns promoting his nomination that are fueled by dark money. “You just have got to make the sensible bet that he will saddle up and rebuild that five-to-four group and continue that dark-money plague that has, I think, corrupted our democracy.”
The Senate is expected to take up Mr. Gorsuch’s nomination this week.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, has said that Mr. Gorsuch will win confirmation, a possible sign that he is willing to change the rules of the Senate to overcome a Democratic filibuster, which sets a 60-vote threshold for confirmation.
Outside groups say Mr. Whitehouse is being a hypocrite, pointing out that he has taken over $30,000 from the League of Conservative Voters, which the Center for Public Integrity has said is “one of the strongest ’dark money’ forces — a realm conservative groups have typically dominated.”
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• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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