A Rhode Island federal judge, John McConnell, is under scrutiny after a conservative legal group, America First Legal, filed a complaint alleging a conflict of interest. McConnell, who previously served on the board of a homeless services provider, Crossroads Rhode Island, did not recuse himself from a case that halted President Trump's freeze on federal assistance. The organization has received significant federal funding. The complaint raises questions about the judge's ethical obligations and potential bias.
Despite his long-time entanglement with this federally funded organization, Judge McConnell did not recuse himself. His failure to do so may violate federal law and judicial canons of ethics, raises profound concerns about Judge McConnell's judgment as an officer of the court, and his fitness for the bench.
Since 2010, Crossroads has taken in at least $15.4 million in federal grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including at least $2.2 million this year alone.
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