House Republicans Subpoena ActBlue, Dem Fundraising Platform, Amid Election Security Concerns

In a move that intensifies scrutiny of Democratic fundraising practices ahead of the 2024 election, House Republicans have issued a subpoena to ActBlue, a major platform for Democratic campaigns. This action is part of an ongoing effort to obtain more information about questionable transactions and ActBlue’s donor vetting procedures.

The subpoena, sent by House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), demands that ActBlue provide details on its donor verification policies and practices before November 6th, the day after this year’s general election. Steil justified the subpoena, claiming it is necessary to “safeguard our nation’s elections” and “close loopholes in our campaign finance system.” He expressed concerns about contributions from donors whose identities may not have been rigorously vetted.

This move comes as Republicans have voiced growing concerns regarding ActBlue’s security protocols and donor verification processes. These concerns were amplified in recent months when it was revealed that ActBlue did not previously require online donors to provide their credit card CVV numbers during online donations. This omission, according to Steil and other Republicans, could facilitate “potentially fraudulent and illicit financial activity” by foreign donors.

While ActBlue has addressed these criticisms by implementing a requirement for CVV numbers in August, Republican concerns persist. The subpoena follows a New York Post report highlighting that the Treasury Department has identified “hundreds of records of transactions” on ActBlue that were flagged as potentially suspicious by banks. The department is currently reviewing these records.

Adding to the investigation, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) announced this week that his office is “working closely with Treasury” to expedite the acquisition of these materials.

The House Administration Committee’s investigation into ActBlue extends beyond the current election cycle. Steil also sent a letter to ActBlue on Wednesday requesting information about the platform’s donor verification policies and potential vulnerabilities from previous months.

In September, Steil introduced legislation aimed at strengthening donor vetting procedures for political committees and platforms like ActBlue. The legislation would prohibit accepting contributions from prepaid gift cards and implement a bipartisan FEC recommendation to prohibit individuals from “knowingly aiding or abetting someone” who makes a contribution in someone else’s name. The legislation passed the committee by voice vote but has yet to be brought to the floor for a full vote.

This investigation comes at a critical juncture in the 2024 election cycle and raises significant questions about the security of campaign finance and the potential for foreign influence. While ActBlue has taken steps to address some security concerns, Republican scrutiny continues, underscoring the ongoing debate over election integrity and the role of political fundraising platforms in the democratic process.

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