The former anti-abortion activist behind a Supreme Court influence scheme faced scathing criticism from GOP House Judiciary Committee members Thursday during a partisan-infected, tense hearing on leaks and conflicts of interest involving the justices.

The Rev. Rob Schenck, the former leader of an evangelical organization Faith and Action, was the primary witness at the committee’s hearing, “Undue Influence: ‘Operation Higher Court’ and Politicking at SCOTUS.”