Democrats' Digital Fundraising Methods Under Attack by Trump
Breaking: Trump Administration Launches Probe into Democratic Fundraising Platform ActBlue
Get ready for some political drama! President Trump has officially announced to scrutinize the online fundraising giants that power the majority of Democratic political campaigns, with ActBlue being the primary target. In a shocking turn of events, an executive order published on the White House website on Thursday sets the stage for this investigation.
The executive order alleges potential involvement of "foreign nationals" in contributing to American elections through fundraising sites like ActBlue, and authorizes the new Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessant, to delve into these sites for evidence of malfeasance. The order reads:
...recent reports and congressional investigations have stirred up highly suspect evidence that online fundraising platforms may have willingly participated in schemes to bypass Federal limits on political contributions to candidates and committees.
The order goes on:
These reports shed light on concerns that nefarious actors are attempting to circumvent Federal contribution limits by breaking large donations into smaller, seemingly legitimate contributions, which as per appearances would evade detection. The reports also bring to light the possibility of such “straw donations” being made through “dummy" accounts, potentially using gift cards or prepaid credit cards to hide their tracks.
Bondi and Bessant have been given the green light to investigate the fundraising tools for any signs of foreign influence. In response to Gizmodo's inquiry, the Trump administration declined to provide further details.
The order also references an earlier probe by House Republicans into ActBlue, which allegedly uncovered evidence of foreign-sourced fraud on the platform.
It's important to note that Republicans also have their own fundraising operation, WinRed, which was launched during the first term of Trump's administration. WinRed, launched in 2019, serves as the GOP's answer to Democrats' ActBlue and operates as a "for-profit" fundraising tool. However, Republican lawmakers have frequently criticized WinRed for its tactics in encouraging donations and have even questioned its effectiveness compared to its Democratic counterpart, which is why the Trump administration has been actively promoting its use. WinRed, too, has faced criticism and has been investigated by several state attorneys general.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story! ActBlue is the cornerstone of Democratic political campaigns, and this investigation could have significant political, legal, and election integrity implications. Keep an eye on the ball as we navigate this modern political arena!
- Thetech giant ActBlue, a crucial player in Democratic fundraising, faces scrutiny from the Trump Administration amidst allegations of malfeasance and foreign involvement.
- The most recent executive order published on the White House website authorizes the new Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessant, to investigate ActBlue and other online fundraising platforms for any signs of malign activity.
- The order claims that these platforms may have evaded policy-and-legislation by employing tactics to break political contribution limits, citing fears of " dummy" accounts, gift cards, and prepaid credit cards being used to mask donors' identities.
- ActBlue isn't the first fundraising platform to be under investigation; House Republicans previously probed the platform for foreign-soured fraud allegations.
- In contrast, the Republican party's own fundraising tool, WinRed, has also faced criticism and scrutiny, with lawmakers questioning its tactics and effectiveness.
- This investigation into ActBlue could potentially shake up the landscape of general-news, politics, and future technology in American elections, so stay informed as the story unfolds.
