Conservative Activist Leonard Leo Funds Efforts to Shield Oil and Gas Industry from Climate Lawsuits

ProPublica investigation reveals coordinated state-level lobbying campaign to pass laws protecting fossil fuel companies from accountability

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:08am

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A heavily textured, fragmented painting in muted earth tones and blues depicting an abstract fossil fuel infrastructure, conveying the political and environmental fractures caused by the industry's influence.A fractured, abstract painting symbolizes the political and environmental damage wrought by the fossil fuel industry's efforts to evade accountability for climate change.Boulder Today

A ProPublica investigation has found that conservative activist Leonard Leo, known for his role in placing conservative justices on the Supreme Court, has been orchestrating a coordinated effort across multiple states to pass laws that shield oil and gas companies from legal claims related to climate change. These laws aim to remove long-standing tools for the public to hold corporations accountable for the destruction and mounting toll caused by the climate crisis.

Why it matters

This campaign highlights the growing influence of dark money groups and coordinated political efforts to undermine environmental protections and accountability for the fossil fuel industry, even as communities like Boulder, Colorado face escalating climate-related disasters. It raises concerns about the ability of the public to seek legal recourse against corporations responsible for fueling the climate crisis.

The details

The investigation found that 15 laws have either been passed or are currently being debated in 11 states as part of this coordinated effort. These laws are being pushed by a constellation of groups with funding ties to Leonard Leo, who is credited with placing conservative justices on the Supreme Court. The groups have drafted state legislation, planned its dissemination, and engaged a well-connected lobbying firm to get the laws signed into law.

  • Since 2021, Leo has been deploying a $1.6 billion gift through a series of nonprofits and other organizations that obscure the source and the recipients of donations.
  • In 2024, The 85 Fund, a nonprofit judicial advocacy group founded by Leo, contributed more than $67 million to Donors Trust, a dark money group that provided over 65% of the funding for Consumers' Research, another organization involved in the lobbying effort.
  • As recently as 2024, Oramel H. Skinner, the former Arizona solicitor general, was also counsel for Leo's 85 Fund, according to the nonprofit's tax filings.

The players

Leonard Leo

A conservative legal activist credited with placing conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, who has been orchestrating a coordinated effort across multiple states to pass laws shielding oil and gas companies from legal claims related to climate change.

The 85 Fund

A nonprofit judicial advocacy group founded by Leonard Leo that has been a key conduit for his funding of the lobbying effort.

Consumers' Research

An organization that has worked closely with and contracted more than $670,000 of work in 2024 to CRC Advisors, a political and corporate consulting firm associated with Leonard Leo.

Donors Trust

A dark money group that provided over 65% of the funding for Consumers' Research in 2024, with more than $67 million in contributions from Leonard Leo's 85 Fund.

Boulder County, Colorado

A county that has sued Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy, accusing the oil companies of intentionally misleading the public and creating a public nuisance by altering the environment and leaving the county to pay for the growing costs of climate-related disasters.

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What they’re saying

“'For decades, the left has leveraged immense resources to capture the institutions that shape our society—the legal system, universities, medical and scientific bodies, the entertainment industry, and our biggest corporations. That takeover resulted in a radically woke culture that does not reflect the will of the American people, or the pillars of limited constitutional government that made our country great. That is why our enterprise supports organizations that are committed to crushing liberal dominance and restoring balance in the institutions that shape society.'”

— Leonard Leo

What’s next

The legal battle between Boulder County and the oil companies over climate change liability is ongoing, with the oil companies having never filed a response in Colorado but asking for the case to be dismissed.

The takeaway

This investigation reveals the extent to which powerful conservative groups and wealthy individuals like Leonard Leo are working to shield the fossil fuel industry from accountability for its role in the climate crisis, even as communities face escalating climate-related disasters. It highlights the growing influence of dark money in shaping state-level policies and the urgent need for greater transparency and oversight of these coordinated political efforts.