The Democratic Party’s use of the ActBlue online donation platform for allegedly engaging in false fundraising has become more and more of a focus of a legislative investigation that is now examining potential foreign influence in American elections. House and Senate authorities are demanding access to classified knowledge and money-laundering information to needle whether foreign enemies, including Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and China, have routed illicit wealth through ActBlue during the 2024 election cycle.
According to Just The News, House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis. ) and Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis. ) addressed letters to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines revealed that the investigation is centered on allegations that foreign actors may be breaking American election laws. The legislators expressed concern about “potential illegal election funding by international actors,” who they claim are “using ActBlue to launder unlawful money into U.S. political campaigns.”
The research has raised concerns that foreign actors may be using British donors ‘ names to make false promises. Steil and Johnson have requested access to Suspicious Activity Reports ( SARs ) filed by U. S. financial institutions, which are typically submitted when transactions exceed$ 10, 000 or when suspicious behavior that might signal criminal activity, such as money laundering, is detected.
” We request that the Department make available to CHA and PSI workers all Cautious Action Reports (‘ SARs’ ) related to ActBlue, especially regarding fraud, money laundering, identity theft, and the use of prepaid funds, bank, and gift cards in this context”, the lawmakers wrote.
In response to growing concerns that ActBlue may have permitted illegal foreign donations through the use of prepaid cards, the request for access to SARs and classified briefings is welcomed. The FBI and other officials appeared unaware of the issue when questioned in a September briefing, according to the congressional letters, which also raised concerns about a lack of action by the Biden administration and intelligence agencies.
A technique known as” smurfing” is at the center of the investigation, in which large amounts of money are divided into smaller amounts using sworn identities. This method creates the impression that many small-dollar donors are involved in illicit activity and makes it difficult to identify it. The investigators believe that this could be occurring on a large scale, with evidence suggesting that donors from low-income communities have been given the honor of making far more donations than their financial circumstances would allow.
This practice has caught the attention of election watchdogs, as well as local and state officials. In fact, Steil’s committee previously performed a computer analysis of hundreds of thousands of small donations made through ActBlue, and the findings were referred to attorneys general in 19 states for further investigation under consumer fraud statutes.
Concerns were heightened by a new lawsuit filed in Wisconsin last week. Republican consultant Mark Block claimed in the lawsuit that ActBlue used his identity and an outdated campaign email to make hundreds of unauthorized donations. His lawsuit argues that he was the victim of identity theft and that the scheme is a part of a growing racketeering operation.
ActBlue’s allegations go beyond just potential domestic fraud. Steil and Johnson emphasized the danger of foreign interference in the election process in their letters to senior officials. Evidence has emerged indicating that illegal donations have been broken into numerous smaller donations made in the name of existing ActBlue donors without their knowledge, according to CHA’s investigation. This is known as” smurfing,” where illegal actors place prepaid debit, credit, or gift cards in the names of deceptive donors to make” stretched donations” that are essentially unheard.
Concerns have arisen that foreign actors from Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and China may be involved in this illegal scheme to interfere with U. S. elections. In response to the potential threat to national security posed by foreign influence in the 2024 election, the lawmakers have requested immediate intelligence briefings on this matter.
The investigation into ActBlue’s fundraising practices began in 2023 when concerns arose about the platform’s security protocols and the possibility that foreign actors could use weak verification procedures. ActBlue admitted not requiring donors to use the CVV code on the back of credit cards, a fundamental security feature used to prevent fraud, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. ActBlue has since agreed to put this rule into effect in Texas, but concerns about its widespread fundraising practices persist.