President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Thursday directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch an investigation into ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s primary online money laundering fundraising platform. The directive accuses ActBlue and similar platforms of facilitating illegal foreign and straw donations to US political campaigns, citing findings from recent GOP-led congressional investigations.
The memo, which calls for an investigation by the Department of Justice within 180 days, points to alleged evidence of hundreds of suspicious donations made using foreign IP addresses and prepaid cards during the 2024 election cycle.
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According to a White House fact sheet addressing the memorandum:
- Recently uncovered evidence suggests that online fundraising platforms are being used to launder excessive and prohibited contributions to political candidates and committees.
- Bad actors have sought to evade Federal source and amount limitations by breaking down large contributions into smaller ones, often attributing them to numerous individuals without their consent or knowledge.
- These “straw donations” are frequently made through “dummy” accounts, using methods such as gift cards or prepaid credit cards to avoid detection.
- ActBlue has become notorious for its lax standards that enable unverified and fraudulent donations.
- A recent House of Representatives investigation found that ActBlue detected at least 22 “significant fraud campaigns” in recent years—nearly half of which had a foreign nexus.
- Over a 30-day window during the 2024 election cycle, ActBlue detected 237 donations from foreign IP addresses using prepaid cards.
- The investigation revealed that ActBlue trained employees to “look for reasons to accept contributions,” even in the face of suspicious activity.
- Until recently, ActBlue accepted political contributions without requiring a card verification value (CVV), making it easy to contribute without identity verification.
- Before addressing this issue in response to a congressional investigation, ActBlue tested whether this would hurt its fundraising.
- Numerous state attorneys general have opened investigations into ActBlue over suspicious donations made through obscured identities and untraceable means.
The Trump administration has defended the memorandum as a necessary step to protect election integrity. According to the White House, the action aims to address fraudulent donation schemes and ensure compliance with federal election laws. Republican officials argue that foreign entities exploiting digital donation systems pose a serious threat to American democracy and justify a federal crackdown.
ActBlue has funneled more than $16 billion to Democrat campaigns since 2004, including $46.7 million for former Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for the White House in 2024.
Democrats and progressive groups, however, have slammed the memorandum as a blatant political maneuver. ActBlue issued a swift response, asserting that it fully complies with all legal requirements and maintains robust fraud prevention systems. The organization pledged to defend itself through legal channels and reiterated its mission to facilitate grassroots democratic participation.
“The Trump administration and GOP’s targeting of ActBlue is part of their brazen attack on democracy in America. Today’s escalation by the White House is blatantly unlawful and needs to be seen for what it is: Donald Trump’s latest front in his campaign to stamp out all political, electoral and ideological opposition,” ActBlue said in a statement.
“This Administration continues to weaponize the instruments of federal power in an unprecedented assault on our democracy. ActBlue will immediately pursue all legal avenues to protect and defend itself. It is time for the entire Democratic Party and all Americans who embrace the value of civic participation to unite and create a blue wall against the despotism of this White House and their accomplices in Congress. ActBlue will continue its mission and work undeterred and uninterrupted, providing a safe, secure fundraising platform for the millions of grassroots donors who rely on us.”
Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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