Representative Calls for Probe into Major Fundraising Platform Controversy

Act Blue

Republican Rep. Bryan Steil urges multi-state investigation into ActBlue’s potentially illegal fundraising activities.

At a Glance

  • Chairman Bryan Steil sent letters to Attorneys General from Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri regarding the Committee’s investigation into ActBlue.
  • The investigation focuses on ActBlue’s compliance with campaign finance laws and potential violations.
  • Steil emphasized his commitment to election integrity and transparency.
  • Reports suggest ActBlue fraudulently exploited donors to bypass campaign finance laws.
  • ActBlue claims the allegations are part of a disinformation campaign and denies wrongdoing.

Comprehensive Investigation Unveiled

The House Administration Committee, led by Chairman Bryan Steil, has called on the Attorneys General from five states—Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri—to investigate allegations of illegal fundraising activities by ActBlue. This comes after an extensive probe into ActBlue’s compliance with campaign finance laws, during which more than 200 million records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) were reviewed.

Key findings from these records suggest the use of fake identities to move funds into political campaigns illegally. Whistleblowers and federal agency data further reinforce these suspicions, pointing to irregular donation patterns and significant contributions from financially limited donors and elderly individuals.

Evidence of Potential Fraudulent Activities

Representative Steil’s team uncovered several alarming trends, such as hundreds of recurring $2.50 donations from the same individual and donations that far exceeded the donor’s apparent financial capacity. These are strong indicators of fraudulent actions, potentially involving money laundering through gift cards and prepaid credit cards.

“When I became the Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, I made a commitment that election integrity and security would be a top priority. Through our investigation into ActBlue and the reported campaign finance law violations, we upheld our commitment to the American people to increase transparency in our elections,” Chairman Steil said.

Rep. Steil further underscored the importance of the findings by asking the FEC to tighten donor verification standards and impose a ban on donations via gift cards. This request aims to close loopholes and ensure stricter compliance with federal election laws to maintain the integrity of future elections.

ActBlue’s Response and Next Steps

In response to the allegations, ActBlue has firmly denied any wrongdoing, labeling the investigation as a “years-long disinformation and harassment campaign targeting ActBlue based on frivolous and false accusations.” The platform has reportedly updated its policies to require Card Verification Value (CVV) codes for donations, an effort to address some concerns raised during the investigation.

“Illegal and malicious conduct have no place in our elections. Ensuring all parties are complying with federal election law as we approach a presidential election is of utmost importance. By launching a new phase of our investigation into ActBlue, the Committee on House Administration has begun robust oversight of ActBlue’s lenient donor verification standards. I’m committed to ensuring Americans can have confidence in our elections and to preventing foreign or malicious actors from influencing American elections.”

The fate of this investigation now rests in the hands of the Attorneys General from Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri, who are expected to build on the substantial work done by Steil’s committee. Their findings and any further actions will significantly shape the discourse around election integrity and campaign finance regulation as the nation approaches another pivotal election season.

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