Knives out for ActBlue as Pam Bondi sets sights on Democrat fundraising platform

Bondi will examine whether the platform facilitated foreign contributions to political campaigns.

PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO

House Republicans have urged the FBI and Treasury to investigate ActBlue.

Washington D.C.: President Donald Trump has directed the Justice Department to investigate ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s top fundraising platform, over allegations of illegal campaign donations.

In an executive order signed Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi was tasked with examining whether the platform facilitated "straw" or foreign contributions to political campaigns.

Democrats condemned the move, calling it a politically motivated attack. ActBlue denounced the order as an "oppressive use of power" and vowed to fight it legally.

"This is Donald Trump’s latest front in his campaign to stamp out opposition," the group said in a statement, pledging to continue operations undeterred.

Republicans have long accused ActBlue of lax oversight, though Trump’s order did not target WinRed, the GOP’s equivalent platform. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley praised the investigation, calling ActBlue a "Dark Money scam". Democrats, however, framed it as an attempt to suppress small-dollar donors while favoring wealthy backers.

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The probe is to be completed within 180 days. ActBlue, a key driver of Democratic campaigns, has fueled record-breaking small donations in recent elections.

ActBlue also faces scrutiny, with Republicans alleging campaign finance violations. House Republicans have urged the FBI and Treasury to investigate, claiming foreign interference and fraud — allegations ActBlue denies. Despite the pressure, Democratic fundraising remains strong, with $400 million raised in Q1 2024.

Recently ActBlue has been the focus of numerous allegations ranging from a lack of transperency about donations to accusations of partisanship. Conservative groups have accused ActBlue of not properly verifying donor identities, raising concerns about "dark money" or foreign influence in US elections. Some argue that ActBlue allows multiple donations from the same name and zip code, suggesting possible fraudulent or automated (bot) donations. Investigations (including by the FEC) have not found evidence of systemic fraud, and ActBlue has stated that it follows all legal requirements and fraud protections.