WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01) sent a letter to ActBlue, a major Democratic fundraising platform, demanding documents and information related to the platform's donor verification policies and potential vulnerabilities that foreign actors may exploit to illegally participate in the U.S. political process. This follows an extensive Committee investigation into possible financial channels foreign actors may be utilizing to launder illicit money through U.S. political campaigns.

Excerpts from the letters read:

"... I write today to demand information on ActBlue’s donor verification policies and the potential for foreign actors, primarily from Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and China, to use ActBlue to launder illicit money into U.S. political campaigns. Our investigation has indicated that these actors may be exploiting existing U.S. donors by making straw donations without the individuals’ or your platform’s knowledge."

"... the Committee conducted a comprehensive data analysis, comparing over 200 million FEC donation records with data on age, party affiliation, number of donations, consumer purchasing power, and net worth. This study revealed several anomalies and mismatches in the FEC records, suggesting that foreign entities may be using these tactics to interfere with U.S. elections."

"Given the critical importance of safeguarding the upcoming election, we strongly urge you to expedite the response to this inquiry. Immediate cooperation on this matter is essential to protect the integrity of our electoral system and to mitigate any risks posed by foreign actors attempting to interfere with the U.S. political process."

Read the full letter here.

Background:

On October 31, 2023, following reports that ActBlue was accepting political contributions without a card verification value (CVV), Chairman Steil sent a letter demanding answers on ActBlue's practices, questioning if they are complying with federal campaign finance laws and preventing foreign and illegal contributions.

On November 27, 2023, ActBlue responded to Chairman Steil's letter saying it did not require a CVV in order to contribute on their website.

On September 6, 2024, Chairman Steil introduced H.R. 9488, the Secure Handling of Internet Electronic Donations (SHIELD) Act. The legislation prohibits political committees from accepting an online contribution unless the contributor provides the CVV and billing address associated with the card and from accepting online contributions from prepaid cards. It also adopts a top legislative recommendation from the FEC to prohibit individuals from knowingly aiding or abetting a person making a contribution in the name of another person.

On September 11, 2024, the SHIELD Act passed the Committee on House Administration by a voice-vote.

On September 18, 2024, Chairman Steil sent letters to the Attorneys General from Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri, updating them on the Committee's investigation into ActBlue, a major democratic fundraising platform. Along with the letter, the Attorneys General received the data and evidence that the Committee has collected over the course of almost a year. 

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