As former President Donald Trump’s potential nominees to the Supreme Court are handpicked by Leo, some efforts remain highly publicized, while others occur under little fanfare. The medley of conservative groups channeling money to Do No Harm underscores a growing belief on the right that attacking trans rights is “a political winner.”
The scale of contributions also helps illuminate how Do No Harm became a successful influence operation so soon after its launch. Last year, the group deployed lobbyists to more than half-dozen states to advocate for restrictions on gender-affirming care, and at least two states passed laws using its model legislative language. In Montana, Do No Harm provided the blueprint for a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which sparked furious local protests.
Transgender rights activists march through the University of Montana campus in Missoula, Montana. Dozens were protesting the censure of transgender state Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D), who was blocked from speaking after she said state legislators would have “blood on your hands” if a transgender youth care ban was passed.
“It just made the worst of the worst people here more bold in their bigotry, and that trickles down to our kids,” Darcy Saffer, parent of two transgender nonbinary children in Bozeman, Montana, told HuffPost last year. The law is blocked while the Montana Supreme Court weighs whether it’s unconstitutional.
Do No Harm has also filed a host of lawsuits to block programs aimed at diversifying the medical profession. In addition to receiving $750,000 from Leo’s network, Do No Harm paid Leo’s consulting firm $231,185 for “public affairs” services. The consulting firm and other for-profit firms in which Leo has a financial stake have been paid millions of dollars over the years by various nonprofits in his orbit.
Last year, Brian Schwalb, attorney general of the District of Columbia, opened an investigation into Leo and his nonprofit network. The scope has not been made public. Neither Do No Harm nor Blum responded to requests for comment.
After Trump left office, Leo vastly expanded efforts targeting a wide spectrum of conservative policy goals and hobby horses. Powered in part by the largest known political donation in U.S history – a $1.6 billion gift from reclusive electronics mogul Barre Seid – Leo’s network is now fueling attacks on issues including abortion access, voting rights, and critical race theory.
Since 2022, the Concord Fund has received at least $55 million from the nonprofit that houses Seid’s gift, Marble Trust. Right-wing activist Leonard Leo attends the 2023 Antonin Scalia Memorial Dinner as part of Federalist Society’s National Lawyers Convention in Washington.
Do No Harm’s goals dovetail neatly with Leo’s expanded mission. The group helped pay for activists and expert witnesses to travel the country, testifying in favor of bans on gender-affirming care for minors. On top of fighting to restrict transgender care, Do No Harm is suing Louisiana and Montana over modest efforts to diversify their state medical boards.
“It’s no surprise that Leonard Leo is using his vast dark money network to bankroll far-right groups working to roll back LGBTQ Americans’ rights,” Caroline Ciccone, president of Accountable.US, told HuffPost. “This is how Leonard Leo works. He leverages his web of nonprofits – bolstered by a massive $1.6 billion windfall – to carry out his radical and unpopular agenda because he knows it will never win at the ballot box.”