Campaign contributions have arrived from questionable contributors in Trump's electoral campaign
New Developments in Trump's Political Fundraising Inquiry
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump recently directed his attorney general to investigate online fundraising activities, highlighting concerns about foreign interference and fraudulent contributions. However, his focus seemed to center on a specific target: ActBlue, the leading online fundraising platform for Democrats.
Despite these accusations, an AP review of Trump's political committees raised questions about the legitimacy of funds amassed by his committees. The president's team has received more than 1,000 contributions from donors who omitted key identifying details such as their city, state, address, or country. Additionally, around 90 contributions were made from individuals who omitted their full name, were listed as "anonymous," or did not provide their name at all. Many of these contributions were channeled through WinRed, the GOP's counterpart to ActBlue.
The White House failed to respond to questions regarding Trump's fundraising activities. In response, a senior administration official pointed to a recent House Republican investigation of ActBlue, claiming it had uncovered evidence of potentially unlawful conduct. The Justice Department, on the other hand, did not respond to a request for comment.
Here are some key takeaways from the AP's examination of Trump's political committees:
Overseas Donations to Trump's Committees
It is unlawful for U.S. candidates and political committees to accept contributions from foreign nationals. Additionally, laws impose strict limits on donation amounts and prohibit the laundering of contributions to evade legal caps. Typically, such donations have been policed by campaigns and the Federal Election Commission, with only the most egregious cases being targeted by federal law enforcement.
The AP identified only two Trump donors living abroad whose U.S. citizenship was listed as "verified" in the president's campaign finance reports. It is worth noting that the donors who omitted key identifying details totaled over 150, suggesting a potential breach of legislation.
Likely Problematic Donations
U.S. citizens living abroad are free to donate to political candidates back home. However, it can be challenging for campaigns to determine whether a donor is eligible and their identity, particularly when incomplete or conflicting information is provided.
One example highlighted in the AP's review involves Jiajun "Jack" Zhang, a Chinese businessman from Shandong province who donated $5,000 to Trump. Despite being listed as a Chinese national in French business filings, Zhang's contribution to Trump listed a La Quinta Inn in Hawaiian Gardens, California, as his address, which he used around the time he posted a photo on social media of his family visiting Disneyland, close to the hotel. Efforts to contact Zhang for comment were unsuccessful.
Other problematic donations include contributions from anonymous donors using fake U.S. addresses and a series of donations made through WinRed that listed the donor's address as a vacant building in Washington, once a funeral home.
A History of Indifference to Campaign Finance Violations
Trump's political committees' questionable fundraising practices reflect a long-standing disregard for campaign finance rules on behalf of the president. In the past, Trump has demonstrated insensitivity to campaign finance regulations, using his presidential powers to assist those in legal trouble for such matters.
In January, the Justice Department dropped a case against former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a Nebraska Republican accused of accepting an illegal contribution. During his first term, Trump pardoned conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza and Republican donor Michael Liberty, both convicted of using straw donors to circumvent donation limits. He also pardoned former California Rep. Duncan Hunter, who was convicted of stealing from his campaign fund in 2020.
Nervous Democrats and the Investigation
Democrats are outraged by Trump's calls for an investigation, perceiving it as political retribution given WinRed's acceptance of potentially problematic donations. Some worry that the ensuing investigation could halt not only ActBlue's operations but also deprive Democrats of vital funding necessary for campaigns.
"This is him taking direct aim at the center of Democratic and progressive fundraising to hamstring his political opponents," said Ezra Reese, an attorney leading the political law division at the Elias Law Group, a prominent Democratic firm that does not represent ActBlue.
Democrats are also concerned about the long-term consequences of such investigations, with some estimating a potential loss of millions of dollars in the short term if ActBlue is forced to shut down. As a result, some Democrats are starting to explore alternative fundraising options, although it may be too late for anything as successful as ActBlue given the upcoming midterm elections.
"There is a pervasive fear that ActBlue could cease to exist," said Matt Hodges, a veteran Democratic operative who served as the director of engineering for Joe Biden's 2020 campaign. "That's the worst fear people have: that this will escalate or drain legal resources. It will hinder their ability to operate."
- The investigation into President Trump's online fundraising activities, which has targeted ActBlue, a leading online fundraising platform for Democrats, is extending into the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics, as concerns about foreign interference and fraudulent contributions are raised.
- The AP's examination of Trump's political committees revealed a notable number of contributions from donors who omitted key identifying details, such as their city, state, address, or country, which may represent a potential breach of the given legislation in the general-news category.
- The Trump administration's history of indifference to campaign finance violations raises questions about the intentions behind their latest calls for investigation, particularly for crime-and-justice purposes, as these questionable fundraising practices could create implications for opponents in the future.
