Barre Seid Transfers $1.6 Billion to Leonard Leos Marble Freedom Trust — Largest Known Dark Money Donation in U.S. History (2018-01-01)

Chicago businessman Barre Seid transferred approximately $1.6 billion to Marble Freedom Trust, a dark money nonprofit controlled by Leonard Leo, the Federalist Society executive credited with architecting the conservative Supreme Court supermajority. The transfer — the largest known dark money donation in American history — was structured as a tax-free corporate stock donation and remained secret for over a year. Leonard Leo used the funds to expand a network of dark money organizations influencing judicial nominations, state judicial elections, and policy outcomes across the country.