INVESTIGATING “STRAW” DONORS:
Today, President Donald J. Trump took a significant step by signing a Presidential Memorandum aimed at combating the illegal tactics of “straw donors” and foreign contributions in American elections. This action comes in response to alarming reports and ongoing congressional investigations that have raised questions about unlawful activities linked to ActBlue and various online fundraising platforms.
- The Memorandum mandates the Attorney General to investigate and respond to claims regarding the misuse of online fundraising platforms for “straw” or “dummy” donations, as well as foreign contributions to U.S. political candidates and committees, both of which are illegal.
- Specifically, it highlights findings from a congressional investigation that revealed considerable fraud schemes involving ActBlue. Over a 30-day period during the 2024 election cycle, hundreds of donations from foreign IP addresses were processed via prepaid cards—despite the clear prohibition against foreign nationals contributing to American elections.
- The Attorney General is instructed to report the investigation’s findings directly to the President, through the Counsel to the President.
PROTECTING AMERICAN DEMOCRACY:
President Trump is taking decisive action to thwart malign actors and foreign entities attempting to unduly influence American elections, thereby preserving the integrity of the electoral process.
- Recent discoveries indicate that online fundraising platforms are being exploited to launder excessive and illegal contributions to political candidates and committees.
- These unscrupulous actors have sought to circumvent federal regulations on contribution sources and amounts by fragmenting large donations into smaller ones, often falsely attributing them to numerous individuals who are unaware of this manipulation.
- The “straw donations” are frequently funneled through “dummy” accounts, utilizing gift cards or prepaid credit cards as a means to evade detection.
- ActBlue has garnered a reputation for its lax oversight, which has facilitated the processing of unverifiable and fraudulent donations.
- A recent investigation by the House of Representatives uncovered that ActBlue identified at least 22 significant fraud campaigns in recent years, with nearly half linked to foreign sources.
- During a 30-day span in the 2024 election cycle, ActBlue recorded 237 donations originating from foreign IP addresses utilizing prepaid cards.
- The investigation also revealed that ActBlue trained its employees to “look for reasons to accept contributions,” even when faced with suspicious activities.
- Until recently, ActBlue allowed political contributions without requiring a card verification value (CVV), thus making it alarmingly easy for individuals to donate without identity verification.
- In response to the congressional scrutiny, ActBlue conducted tests to determine whether implementing CVV checks would negatively impact its fundraising efforts.
- Numerous state attorneys general have initiated investigations into ActBlue concerning dubious donations made through concealed identities and untraceable channels.
MAKING ELECTIONS SECURE AGAIN:
American voters rightfully demand elections they can trust, and President Trump is working to restore that confidence.
- Following through on his commitment to secure elections, President Trump has stated:
- “We’re going to fix our elections so that our elections are going to be honorable and honest.”
- “We will secure our elections, and they will be secure once and for all.”
- Recently, President Trump signed an Executive Order designed to safeguard the integrity of American elections.
- In stark contrast to the Biden Administration, which has been accused of prioritizing political agendas over electoral fairness, President Trump is reaffirming the principle that the American people should have the ultimate authority in their electoral processes.
