Congressional investigators have uncovered internal documents showing ActBlue executives were aware of fraudulent donations, yet intentionally weakened fraud prevention measures during the election cycle while emphasizing DEI over financial security.
Key Takeaways
- Congressional committees have launched an investigation into ActBlue over allegations of foreign donations and weak fraud prevention practices that may violate federal campaign finance laws.
- Internal documents reveal ActBlue not only knew about fraudulent activities but relaxed their fraud prevention rules in 2024 despite evidence of extensive fraud.
- ActBlue’s training guide explicitly encourages employees to “look for reasons to accept contributions” rather than flag suspicious donations.
- In a 30-day period in 2024, ActBlue detected 237 donations from foreign IP addresses using domestic prepaid cards, raising serious legal concerns.
- President Trump has directed the Department of Justice to investigate allegations regarding unlawful use of online fundraising platforms for straw contributions or foreign donations.
ActBlue Under Congressional Scrutiny
Three powerful House committee chairmen—Bryan Steil, Jim Jordan, and James Comer—have intensified their investigation into ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s primary fundraising platform, sending a formal letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi detailing their concerning findings. The investigation centers on ActBlue’s reportedly weak fraud-prevention practices that may enable foreign contributions to flow into U.S. political campaigns. Of particular concern is ActBlue’s practice of not requiring a card verification value (CVV) for contributions, potentially violating federal campaign finance laws including the SHIELD Act, which prohibits accepting online contributions without proper verification.
“The Committee on House Administration, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform have broad oversight of our nation’s federal campaign finance laws,” noted the congressional committees in their letter to the Department of Justice.
Despite raising over $400 million in the first quarter of 2025, ActBlue is facing serious allegations of enabling foreign interference in U.S. elections through its platform. The joint interim staff report titled “Fraud on ActBlue: How the Democrats’ Top Fundraising Platform Opens the Door for Illegal Election Contributions” presents evidence that the organization may have knowingly permitted illegal donations to flow through its system. Most alarmingly, the investigation revealed that ActBlue actually made its fraud-prevention rules more lenient in 2024 despite mounting evidence of extensive fraud.
Internal Documents Reveal Concerning Practices
Perhaps most damning are the internal documents uncovered during the investigation suggesting ActBlue executives and staff were aware of fraudulent activities but chose not to take the threat seriously. According to the congressional report, ActBlue’s training guide for fraud-prevention employees explicitly encourages them to “look for reasons to accept contributions” rather than flag suspicious donations. This directive stands in stark contrast to proper financial security protocols that would prioritize detecting and preventing fraudulent transactions.
“On April 24, 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to ‘investigate allegations regarding the unlawful use of online fundraising platforms to make ‘straw’ or ‘dummy’ contributions or foreign contributions to political candidates,'” states the congressional letter, highlighting the administration’s commitment to pursuing potential election finance violations.
The report also reveals that ActBlue’s chief fraud-prevention official was allegedly willing to accept more fraud while focusing organizational resources on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives rather than financial security. During a 30-day period in 2024, ActBlue detected 237 donations from foreign IP addresses using domestic prepaid cards—a clear red flag for potential illegal foreign influence in American elections.
ActBlue Officials Refuse to Testify
Congressional committees are now considering using subpoenas to compel testimony from ActBlue officials after they declined voluntary testimony on the platform’s fraud defenses. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, House Oversight Chairman James Comer, and House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil expressed frustration that witnesses who initially agreed to interviews withdrew their cooperation after President Trump requested a DOJ investigation into the matter. This refusal to cooperate has only intensified lawmakers’ determination to uncover the truth.
“As we have explained, the Committees are examining allegations that ActBlue, a leading political fundraising organization, allowed bad actors, including foreign actors, to exploit the company’s online platform to make fraudulent political donations,” stated House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, House Oversight Chairman James Comer, and House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil.
The committee chiefs emphasized that ongoing law enforcement investigations do not override Congress’s oversight responsibilities: “The relevant precedent is clear that the mere existence of state or federal law enforcement investigations has no bearing on Congress’s oversight power. As such, an Executive Branch investigation into matters related to oversight by the Committees is not a legitimate basis on which you may decline our request.” Congress has demanded access to “Suspicious Activity Reports” related to ActBlue, which could reveal potential financial crimes connected to the platform’s fundraising operations.
Coordinated Investigations Underway
Beyond congressional action, several state attorneys general have launched their own investigations into ActBlue’s practices. These coordinated efforts suggest the seriousness with which officials view the allegations. The SHIELD Act, aimed at preventing foreign money from influencing U.S. politics, is being pushed as a legislative solution to close loopholes that organizations like ActBlue may be exploiting. ActBlue’s internal turmoil, including several staff resignations and a reportedly dysfunctional legal team, further raises questions about the organization’s compliance with campaign finance laws.
“We’re investigating ActBlue the same way we investigated the Bidens. … We’re starting with the suspicious activity reports — bank violations that flag financial crimes. And let me tell you, the evidence is overwhelming,” said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky.
ActBlue continues to deny any wrongdoing, maintaining that its operations are legitimate and that it employs rigorous security measures to prevent fraud. However, the growing evidence of relaxed fraud prevention, coupled with the organization’s reluctance to cooperate with congressional investigators, paints a concerning picture of potential campaign finance violations that could have significant implications for election integrity and national security.
