ActBlue Under Fire: 19 GOP AGs Investigate Possible Money Laundering
ActBlue, a major Democrat fundraising platform, is facing scrutiny as 19 Republican attorneys general have opened a criminal investigation into potential money laundering activities. Independent investigators claim that large sums of money have been funneled through small donors to disguise the original source, a technique known as “smurfing.”
The investigation comes on the heels of a House Administration Committee probe launched by Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) in 2023. Steil expanded his investigation in August 2024, urging the FEC to crack down on fraudulent donations and enforce stricter regulations, such as requiring CVV codes and prohibiting prepaid card donations.
The GOP attorneys general have sent a letter to ActBlue’s CEO demanding an explanation of how the platform ensures that donations comply with state and federal campaign finance laws. The letter highlights concerns about donations that don’t match a donor’s financial capabilities and unusual patterns from first-time contributors.
This investigation has raised questions about the transparency of ActBlue’s operations, especially as the platform has already raised billions during the 2024 election cycle. The attorneys general are seeking to ensure that the platform is following legal procedures and not facilitating fraudulent contributions.
