The senators asked for an itemized list of gifts and payments from Leo or groups he is associated with dating back decades and related to any Supreme Court justice he has associated with.
Leo's lawyers responded by saying the Democrats' request doesn't comport with the First Amendment and other parts of the Constitution."For similar reasons, your inquiry cannot be reconciled with the Equal Protection component of the Due Process clause of the Fifth Amendment.
The letter explains that former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer took more than 200 trips"paid for by private individuals," including a 2013 trip to a Nantucket compound that was paid for by a billionaire. "None of these incidents has resulted in inquiries from the Committee," the letter from Leo’s attorneys stated.It also argued that Senate Democrats have an"extensive record of vilifying" Leo for his political advocacy through the Federalist Society and said it is"hard to conclude that the disparate treatment to which Mr. Leo is being subjected is the result of anything other than sheer vindictiveness motivated by politics.