Missouri launches investigation into ActBlue for potential fundraising fraud

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced a state investigation Friday into the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, citing potential fraud and other Missouri Merchandising Practices Act violations.

ActBlue has been at the heart of a congressional investigation over allegations that both foreign and domestic fraudulent actors exploited the platform and lawmakers have accused ActBlue of failing to take the claims seriously.

Hanaway's office said in a news release that the investigation comes after the House Administration Committee forwarded information regarding ActBlue's potential conduct to the state Attorney General’s Office for potential investigation.

“When political fundraising is compromised, public trust and the foundations of our democracy are put at risk," Hanaway said in a statement. "Missourians deserve a political system built on honesty and confidence that campaigns are not being financed through unlawful foreign sources. Political fundraising must never become a pathway to deception, influence, or special treatment.”

The state investigation will examine whether ActBlue sent any funds raised through fraudulent contributions to a Missouri political office, campaign, or committee. It claimed that recent reports indicate that through faulty, potentially deliberately unsound, donation verification processes, ActBlue could have received and used money directly from foreign sources. 

The office said it is also suspected that ActBlue receives donations by way of prepaid cards or gift cards, which make it difficult to trace donations and is a method that has been used by foreign donors to conceal contributions.

The Missouri attorney general's office issued a Civil Investigative Demand to ActBlue, which compels the production of documents, communications, and other materials relevant to potential violations of Missouri’s consumer protection laws.

ActBlue is required to provide the requested documents and materials by Oct. 8.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.