ActBlue Took Foreign-Linked Money, Softened Fraud Rules, and Told Congress It Was Under Control

ActBlue claims it’s secure while handling billions of dollars for Democratic campaigns, but internal records show at least 237 donations tied to foreign IP addresses slipped through in a single 30-day window in late 2024.

Its own lawyers warned the group could face a criminal investigation over how it described those safeguards to Congress.

Internal legal memos reviewed by The New York Times show ActBlue’s 2023 letter to Congress described “multilayered” protections to block foreign donations, but some of those steps were not consistently followed.

“This presents a substantial risk for ActBlue,” Covington & Burling wrote, warning that discrepancies between internal practices and public statements could draw scrutiny from prosecutors.

The memos do not state that ActBlue violated federal law, but they warn that investigators could allege violations if improper donations were allowed while Congress was given a different account of how those safeguards worked.

House investigators found internal records showing ActBlue loosened fraud controls during the 2024 election cycle. The platform made its fraud standards “more lenient” twice in 2024 as suspicious activity continued, changes that were not minor.

Trump Unloads on 'Illegal Scam' ActBlue and Biden's Pardon-Happy Autopen

Employees were told to “look for reasons to accept contributions,” not reject them, and internal tracking showed additional fraudulent donations getting through each month.

“ActBlue acknowledges that serious gaps in its fraud prevention systems remain,” the House report states, warning that coordinated donations structured below review thresholds could pass through the system.

Records reviewed by investigators also flagged donations tied to foreign IP addresses, prepaid cards, and incomplete donor information, including 237 transactions identified in a single 30-day period.

Federal law bars foreign nationals from contributing to U.S. elections, and ActBlue sits at the center of Democratic fundraising, processing money for campaigns at every level.

House committees say the breakdown goes beyond technical gaps. Lawmakers pointed to resignations, a hollowed-out legal team, and internal warnings about compliance failures in a letter demanding documents and testimony.

“Recent staff resignations and internal turmoil at ActBlue raise serious questions about ActBlue’s ability to fulfill these ongoing legal obligations,” committee leaders wrote.

Senior officials left after the memos circulated, and the remaining staff raised internal concerns about compliance and transparency. ActBlue also cut ties with the law firm that issued the warnings while standing by its prior statements to Congress.

Only after those warnings did the platform tighten parts of its screening system, including restrictions tied to foreign indicators.

Congressional investigators are now seeking internal communications, compliance records, and sworn testimony as they examine whether ActBlue met federal requirements and how those donations were handled.

ActBlue told Congress its safeguards were working, even as internal documents and investigative findings show they had gaps during the same period.

And now, federal investigators and Congress are examining whether one of the most powerful fundraising machines in left-wing American politics let prohibited money through while telling lawmakers everything was under control.

Editor’s Note: Every single day, here at RedState, we will stand up and FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT against the radical left and deliver the conservative reporting our readers deserve.

Help us continue to tell the truth about the Trump administration and its successes. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.