An investigation into the online Democrat fundraising platform ActBlue has broadened to 19 states, as attorneys general nationwide scrutinize the company’s security practices and examine whether the party may be using the platform to manipulate election donations. An investigation that started with a few states and a House committee has now expanded to nearly half the country, as chief state investigators seek to determine whether Democrats have used ActBlue to launder foreign money or create donations in individuals’ names without their consent, a practice known as “straw donations,” Just the News reports.
In a letter sent last week to ActBlue CEO and President Regina Wallace-Jones, the state attorneys general raised concerns about potential security issues with the online fundraising platform, suggesting that it may allow donations to be made in the names of individuals who did not actually contribute, the outlet noted. “Recent reporting suggests that that [sic] there may be donors across the country who are identified in filings with the Federal Election Commission as having donated to candidates through ActBlue (and other affiliated entities), but who did not actually make those donations,” the attorneys general wrote.
“That raises a host of concerns about whether ActBlue’s platform is being used to facilitate ‘smurfing’––a type of money laundering in which donors break up large donations and submit them under different names to disguise who the money comes from and thereby skirt contribution limits in violation of state and federal law,” the letter continued.
“Independent investigations have shown that there are donors across the country who show up on FEC filings as having donated to candidates through ActBlue (and other affiliated entities) but deny having made those donations. Given the prominent role it plays in our elections, it is incumbent on ActBlue to address the serious questions created by apparent irregularities in ActBlue’s FEC filings,” the attorneys general added.
“ActBlue is one of the largest fundraising platforms for election-related donations. Already during the 2024 election cycle ActBlue has raised billions of dollars. But there are concerns about where those dollars came from. It is essential that we know whether political donations—particularly in such large volumes—are being solicited, made, and processed consistent with campaign finance, consumer protection, and other state and federal laws,” the letter continued.
ActBlue has denied any wrongdoing but stated that it is cooperating with investigators. The letter from the attorneys general arrives amidst ongoing civil and criminal investigations. Just the News has confirmed that some Americans who believe their names have been misused for donations are considering a private lawsuit, while Congress is working to ascertain whether federally regulated financial institutions have reported any suspicious transactions associated with ActBlue’s platform or its clients.
The state attorneys general for Iowa and Indiana led the letter, which also included attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The attorneys general asked Wallace-Jones to respond by Oct. 23, Just the News noted.
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