Ken Paxton Targets ActBlue: DOJ Election Interference Probe Unfolds

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton files a criminal referral against ActBlue, alleging election interference and fraud through suspicious donations.

At a Glance

  • Ken Paxton files criminal referral to DOJ against ActBlue for alleged election interference
  • Investigation suggests bad actors using ActBlue for illegal campaign contributions
  • Allegations include election fraud, identity theft, and wire fraud
  • ActBlue, a major Democratic fundraising platform, collected around $1.5 billion from 7 million donors
  • Paxton urges immediate DOJ action and FEC to close loopholes in election funding

Paxton’s Criminal Referral Against ActBlue

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken a bold step by filing a criminal referral against ActBlue, a prominent Democratic fundraising platform, to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The referral alleges that ActBlue is involved in criminal election interference, potentially impacting the integrity of the presidential election. Paxton’s investigation suggests that bad actors are exploiting ActBlue to make illegal campaign contributions, raising serious concerns about the security of the electoral process.

The allegations outlined in Paxton’s referral are grave, including election fraud and the use of false identities to circumvent election rules. In a letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Paxton highlights “highly suspicious campaign contributions” being channeled through ActBlue. The investigation indicates that anonymous actors are making contributions under others’ names, potentially violating laws such as wire fraud and identity theft.

https://twitter.com/kenpaxtontx?lang=en

ActBlue’s Significance in Democratic Fundraising

ActBlue plays a crucial role in Democratic fundraising efforts. The platform has reportedly collected approximately $1.5 billion from 7 million donors, underlining its significant impact on campaign finance. This substantial financial influence makes the allegations against ActBlue particularly concerning, as any misuse of the platform could have far-reaching consequences for the integrity of campaign funding and, by extension, the electoral process itself.

“It is illegal to engage in election fraud and it is illegal to obscure one’s identity to flout election rules.” – Ken Paxton

In response to these concerns, ActBlue implemented a new measure in August 2024, requiring CVV codes for credit card transactions. However, this step has not fully addressed the issues raised by Paxton, particularly regarding the potential for “straw donations” – contributions made on behalf of another person to bypass legal limits or mask the true source of funds.

Call for Action and Regulatory Changes

Paxton’s criminal referral goes beyond merely highlighting the alleged wrongdoings. He is actively calling for immediate action from the DOJ to prevent further illegal election conduct. Additionally, Paxton is urging the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to close loopholes that could allow for illegal election funding. This push for regulatory change underscores the need for more robust safeguards in campaign finance systems to ensure the integrity of elections.

The gravity of these allegations has prompted Fox News Digital to reach out to both ActBlue and the FEC for comments. As of now, their responses remain pending, leaving many questions unanswered about the potential implications of this investigation on the upcoming election cycle.

https://twitter.com/actblue?lang=en

As this story continues to unfold, it highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining the integrity of campaign finance in the digital age. The outcome of this criminal referral and any subsequent investigations could have significant implications for how online political donations are regulated and monitored in the future, potentially reshaping the landscape of campaign fundraising in American politics.

Sources:

  1. Texas AG Paxton files criminal referral against DOJ from ‘suspicious donations’ through Democratic group
  2. Attor­ney Gen­er­al Ken Pax­ton Makes Crim­i­nal Refer­ral to DOJ Con­cern­ing Wide­spread Sus­pect Polit­i­cal Dona­tions Made Through ActBlue’s Fundrais­ing Platform