House panel investigates ActBlue for foreign funding risks in 2024 election
- A House committee investigation is scrutinizing ActBlue for its donor verification practices amid concerns of foreign influence.
- Evidence has emerged suggesting that foreign actors may exploit ActBlue to launder illicit funds into U.S. political campaigns.
- The committee's actions signal increasing regulatory scrutiny on online fundraising platforms for potential vulnerabilities in promoting election integrity.
The House Administration Committee in the United States has raised alarms about ActBlue, a significant fundraising platform for Democrats, amidst fears of foreign interference in the upcoming 2024 election. Bryan Steil, the committee's chairman, expressed concerns regarding ActBlue's donor verification processes, particularly in light of evidence indicating potential exploitation by foreign entities, including countries like Iran, China, Russia, and Venezuela. The committee suggests these actors may conduct straw donations using U.S. donors' identities without their consent. Steil's escalating investigation was prompted by ActBlue's previous admission that it does not require credit card verification values (CVV) for all transactions, a standard practice aimed at preventing identity fraud and money laundering. In a letter to ActBlue's CEO, Regina Wallace-Jones, Steil specifically demanded details about any changes to verification policies since October 2023, as well as documentation relating to contributions processed via prepaid cards, especially those originating from outside the U.S. Subsequent requests have been made to various government officials, including the Treasury Secretary and FBI Director, for any Suspicious Activity Reports linked to ActBlue. These records, crucial in detecting financial crimes, may shed light on further illicit activities within the platform. The probes, which began earlier in 2023, have now expanded to 19 states, indicating the seriousness of the allegations. As attention grows towards ensuring the integrity of electoral donations, ActBlue's challenges reflect broader concerns of how digital fundraising is regulated and monitored in a rapidly changing political landscape. The outcome of this investigation could set new precedents in the oversight of online political contributions in the U.S.