Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced on Friday that his office has initiated an investigation into ActBlue, the leading fundraising platform for the Democratic Party, over allegations of fraudulent activities within the state.
ActBlue has been a significant conduit for billions of dollars in contributions since its inception in 2004. Miyares sent a letter to ActBlue, alerting the organization to the investigation and demanding detailed records of its transactions in Virginia due to suspicious contributions that suggest potentially illegal activities.
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“My office has been informed of multiple serious allegations that ActBlue (and its affiliates) have engaged in fraudulent, deceptive, and/or otherwise illegal activities in the Commonwealth of Virginia and/or have aided and abetted others in doing so,” Miyares stated in the letter. “The citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia deserve to know that nonprofit and political entities are financed in a legal manner and that entities operating in Virginia are legitimately and legally raising funds. To undermine those concerns is to undermine the integrity of our elections and charities.”
The attorney general pointed out that hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions appear implausible, particularly noting that many high-level contributions came from senior citizens who self-identify as retired or unemployed and are linked to suspicious addresses. This raises the possibility of “fictional donors or dummy accounts” or entirely fraudulent transactions. Additionally, Miyares expressed concern that ActBlue might be collecting donations from Virginia residents without their consent or knowledge.
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Miyares asserted that ActBlue’s actions could violate Virginia’s charitable, criminal, and campaign finance laws, as well as federal regulations. He demanded a detailed explanation of ActBlue’s processes for verifying the legitimacy of donor information and transactions, expecting a response by August 12, 2024.
In response, ActBlue released a public statement, dismissing the investigation as a “partisan political attack and scare tactic aimed at undermining Democratic and progressive small-dollar donors.”
“The promoters of this disinformation campaign have shown up at the homes of donors and harassed our staff in person. This must stop,” ActBlue stated. “The continued escalation of these lies and their intimidating tactics is dangerous. Republicans simply cannot accept that millions of Democrats are energized and engaged in the political process, and are instead resorting to political attacks and spreading false accusations.”
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ActBlue recently processed over $90 million in donations within 24 hours following Vice President Kamala Harris’s announcement of her presidential run, after President Biden declared he would not seek reelection.
ActBlue has also previously been involved in controversial fundraising efforts, including contributions for an illegal immigrant bail fund and supporting organizations linked to a pro-Palestinian conference with speakers who praised Hamas’ October 7 attacks against Israel.
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