A federal judge who warned Trump administration officials they could face criminal contempt charges over a spending freeze is a longtime Democratic donor, according to Federal Election Commission records.
John J. McConnell, Jr., chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, ordered the Trump administration on Monday to “immediately restore frozen funding” after determining officials had violated his prior restraining order. He further suggested that continued opposition to the order could result in criminal charges.
In his ruling, McConnell cited a 1975 case that states, “Persons who make private determinations of the law and refuse to obey an order generally risk criminal contempt even if the order is ultimately ruled incorrect.”
Federal records show that before becoming a judge, McConnell donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns and political action committees while working as a private attorney. His contributions included donations to the 2008 presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama. He also gave over $8,000 to Democratic Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s 2006 Senate campaign.
As someone who wants Trump to abide by all judicial orders, I have to say that Trump probably welcomes a confrontation with this fatcat donor of Sheldon Whitehouse’s who has celebrated and endorsed critical race theory and who got a surprisingly mediocre rating from ABA. (Links… https://t.co/eVEJPwyxZm
— Ed Whelan (@EdWhelanEPPC) February 10, 2025
McConnell’s latest order follows legal action taken by nearly two dozen Democratic state attorneys general, who sued on Jan. 28 over a directive from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) instructing federal agencies to pause payments for activities that could be affected by recent executive orders. These orders include policies related to gender ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
While the OMB memo was later rescinded, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Jan. 29 that the funding freeze had not been lifted. McConnell responded by issuing a Jan. 31 order blocking the administration from freezing any federal funds.
“The plain language of the TRO entered in this case prohibits all categorical pauses or freezes in obligations or disbursements based on the OMB Directive or based on the President’s 2025 Executive Orders,” McConnell wrote in his order on Monday. “The Defendants received notice of the TRO, the Order is clear and unambiguous, and there are no impediments to the Defendants’ compliance with the Order.”
In his earlier ruling, McConnell also stated that withholding these federal funds could cause “irreparable harm” to states and organizations relying on the grants. The Trump administration has not yet responded to McConnell’s latest order.
