A coalition of 19 Republican attorneys general has launched a criminal investigation into ActBlue, the Democrat fundraising platform, following allegations of money laundering. The claims center on the practice of “smurfing,” where large donations are broken up into smaller amounts under different names to hide the true source of funds.
The investigation began after independent journalists and groups like O’Keefe Media Group and Election Watch reported suspicious activity involving millions of dollars in donations. ActBlue has faced similar allegations since the 2020 election, but the concerns have resurfaced during the 2024 cycle.
Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) has been a key figure in investigating ActBlue, urging the FEC to implement stricter regulations to prevent fraudulent donations. He specifically called for campaigns to verify CVV numbers and block prepaid card donations. Now, the 19 attorneys general are demanding answers from ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones, seeking clarification on how the platform prevents illegal contributions and ensures compliance with campaign finance laws.
This investigation has raised concerns about election integrity, especially as ActBlue has raised billions for Democratic candidates. The attorneys general are seeking to ensure that donations are being processed legally and that fraudulent activities are not taking place.
