In a titanic legal battle over Texas’s congressional districts, US District Judge Jerry Smith has set the blogosphere roaring. He mentioned philanthropist George Soros 17 times in his dissenting opinion, garnering lots of attention. The dissent, which spans 104 pages, provides a powerful rebuke to the majority’s decision that invalidated most of the state’s congressional maps. It further implies that Soros orchestrated much of their success.
Smith, a Reagan appointee, on the wide-reaching influence of Soros’s Open Society Foundations. This nonprofit organization is best known for its deep pocket funding of radical leftist organizations. He alleged that the foundations fund a number of organizations linked to the legal teams now arguing the Texas congressional district case. This allows room for possible conflicts of interest. This claim has elicited hard-hitting counterarguments from political as well as legal constituencies.
The ruling has seized national interest as well, in large part, because of its seismic potential to reshape Texas politics. It further ties in very directly to national heavyweights. Interestingly, California Governor Gavin Newsom got named with Soros as a winner from the court’s ruling. The critique of both men was Smith’s main attraction, even though they were not parties to the case. Smith alleged that their political interests came at the expense of Texas residents and eroded the rule of law.
He continued to comment on the tone of Judge Brown’s opinion, writing that,
“In my 37 years on the federal bench, this is the most outrageous conduct by a judge that I have ever encountered in a case in which I have been involved,” – Jerry Smith
This rebuke comes at a time when Soros has faced continuous attacks. His philanthropic efforts have been criticized for a long time by both sides of the aisle – including by former President Donald Trump. Trump has a history of persecutions too, having previously called Soros a criminal and demanded he be thrown in jail for his alleged crimes.
“If, however, there were a Nobel prize for fiction, Judge Brown’s opinion would be a prime candidate.”
The political implications of Smith’s dissent are made much worse by a wider investigation. The US Department of Justice is already seeking creative strategies to criminalize Open Society Foundations’ actions. First, the move is accelerating George Soros’s stranglehold on the national narrative around electoral integrity and outside influence.
Legal authorities across the country have condemned the possible consequences if Smith’s gamble pays off. Richard Hasen, a well-known election law professor, said he was very, very doubtful about how far Smith’s argument is going to go in front of the US Supreme Court.
Smith’s dissent prompts serious questions about the relationship between philanthropy and politics, and the independence of our judiciary. The case highlights how influential figures such as Soros can become focal points in legal disputes that ultimately impact voter representation.
“It’s all politics, on both sides of the partisan aisle. George and Alex Soros have their hands all over this,” – Jerry Smith
As this story continues to evolve, one thing is for certain. The impact of this ruling will reach far past the borders of Texas. The debate surrounding Soros and his philanthropic contributions is likely to become a central theme in future discussions about electoral processes and judicial conduct.
As this story develops, it is clear that the fallout from this ruling will extend beyond Texas. The debate surrounding Soros and his philanthropic contributions is likely to become a central theme in future discussions about electoral processes and judicial conduct.