Texas Attorney General Calls for FEC Action Over 'Suspicious Donations'
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has claimed that ActBlue, the Democrat fundraising platform, is enabling "bad actors" to donate to candidates, thereby interfering in the 2024 US election. Paxton alleges that these donors are using straw donors to hide their identities.
Investigation into ActBlue
In a statement, Paxton revealed that his investigation into ActBlue has found evidence that suggests bad actors are illegally interfering in American elections by disguising political donations. He urged the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to close off the avenues that allow foreign contributions or contributions exceeding legal limits to be unlawfully funneled to political campaigns, thereby bypassing campaign finance regulations and compromising the electoral system.
Petition for Rulemaking
Paxton has sent a Petition for Rulemaking to the FEC, outlining how suspicious actors appear to be using ActBlue's political fundraising platform to make a large number of straw political donations. He launched an investigation into ActBlue last December and in August of this year, he reported that "straw donations" were being made systematically using false identities through untraceable payment methods.
Call for Action
Paxton is calling on the FEC to immediately begin rulemaking to secure elections from criminal actors exploiting these vulnerabilities. ActBlue, which targets small-dollar donations, has been a crucial part of the Democratic fundraising structure, collecting an estimated $1.5 billion from about 7 million donors.
Introduction of a Bill
In September, Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) introduced a bill that would require political committees to collect CVVs — the three- or four-digit "card verification value" on the back of a credit card — along with political donations. Steil, who chairs the Committee on House Administration, sent a letter to top FEC officials urging them to initiate an emergency rulemaking to require political campaigns to verify the CVV of donors who contribute online using a credit or debit card, and to prohibit political campaigns from accepting online contributions from a gift card or other prepaid credit cards.
Claims of Fraudulent Activities
Paxton’s office has previously stated that "secure elections are the cornerstone of our republic." However, there have been accusations that ActBlue is skirting campaign donation laws, allowing for rampant fraud on the site. Rep. Claudia Tenney, (R-NY), in an August letter to the FEC demanding an investigation, wrote that ActBlue could be exploited for fraudulent activities due to the deliberate lack of security in their donation practices.
Foreign Donations
Foreign donations benefiting U.S. political campaigns are a crime and must cease. These actions should be immediately addressed by the DOJ.
Bottom Line
This article raises serious concerns about the potential for fraudulent activities and foreign interference in U.S. elections through online donation platforms. It's crucial for the integrity of the electoral process that these allegations are thoroughly investigated and addressed. What are your thoughts on this issue? Share this article with your friends and let them know about these developments. Remember, you can sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
