Texas AG launches investigation into GoFundMe after platform removes 'Freedom Convoy' fundraiser

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Wednesday that he is investigating fundraising GoFundMe after the online fundraising platform decided to remove the $10 million campaign for the "Freedom Convoy" of Canadian truckers protesting COVID-19 mandates.

Four other Republican attorneys general have pledged to investigate GoFundMe after the platform canceled the truckers' fundraiser. The company initially planned to allocate all unclaimed funds to charities of the convoy's choice, before deciding to give refunds to all donors.

"GoFundMe’s response to an anti-mandate, pro-liberty movement should ring alarm bells to anyone using the donation platform and, more broadly, any American wanting to protect their constitutional rights," Attorney General Paxton said in a press release. 

"Many Texans donated to this worthy cause. I am acting to protect Texas consumers so that they know where their hard-earned money is going, rather than allowing GoFundMe to divert money to another cause without the consent of Texas citizens," Paxton said. "I will get to the bottom of this deceitful action."

He first announced the creation of a team to investigate GoFundMe last week.

GoFundMe has banned fundraisers for conservative causes before. 

For example, the company stopped fundraisers for the defense of Kyle Rittenhouse but ended the ban after the teenager was found not guilty on charges stemming from the fatal Kenosha, Wis., shooting during the summer 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

GoFundMe allowed bail money to be raised for people arrested during the BLM riots.