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WASHINGTON — President Trump signed a memo Thursday ordering a probe of any illicit “straw donors” or foreign funding that flowed into federal elections following claims that the largest Democratic fundraising platform accepted fraudulent contributions in 2024.
The memo authorized Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether ActBlue allowed “dummy” accounts or foreign nationals to donate to Democratic causes — as well as any other suspicious online contributions.
“These activities undermine the integrity of our electoral process,” it stated, with the president mandating a report back from his AG in 180 days.
Trump had repeatedly pledged to “secure” US elections before his return to the White House — and signed an earlier executive order to that effect after taking office.
ActBlue approved “more lenient” standards during the last presidential campaign cycle, according to internal records obtained by The Post, which revealed hundreds of dubious contributions — including ones from “foreign IP” addresses, leading Republicans to cry foul.
“[D]espite repeated instances of fraudulent donations to Democrat campaigns and causes from domestic and foreign sources, ActBlue is not demonstrating a serious effort to deter fraud on its platform,” a 478-page report from members of the House Oversight and Administration Committees staff declared.
Until last year, the liberal fundraising juggernaut did not mandate a card verification value (CVV) for debit, credit or prepaid gift card transactions.
Also, in the middle of the election year, ActBlue employees were told to “look for reasons to accept contributions.”
At least 237 overseas transactions using prepaid cards were flagged between September and October 2024, according to the documents, which has prompted concern from the Republican-led panels about how “widespread” fraudulent contributions might have been.
State-level investigations were previously launched, while Wisconsin GOP strategist Mark Block claimed in a bombshell racketeering lawsuit filed in October of last year that his identity was stolen to make 385 fraudulent donations to liberal groups — including then-Vice President Kamala Harris’ super PAC.
ActBlue has helped funnel $16 billion to lefty campaigns and causes since 2004 — and was a critical part of Harris’ ascent to the top of the 2024 Democratic ticket, amassing $46.7 million for her campaign to succeed former President Joe Biden.
“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.”
