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The Republican president is focusing his efforts on a Democratic fundraising platform, issuing a presidential memorandum aimed at investigating alleged foreign contributions to electoral campaigns—claims that remain unproven from the right.
On Thursday, Donald Trump revealed a memo that directs the attorney general to examine and report to him on the allegations surrounding the utilization of online fundraising platforms for illicit contributions, including ‘straw’ or ‘dummy’ donations, as well as foreign contributions, all of which violate existing laws.
ActBlue, the predominant online donation platform utilized by Democrats, appeared to be bracing for this action. Regina Wallace-Jones, the platform’s CEO and president, communicated via email that they had anticipated an executive order aimed at them. She noted that the looming threat of investigations had caused significant worry among stakeholders within the fundraising ecosystem.
“When we look beyond speculation and conjecture, the fundamental truth is that nothing will deter ActBlue from its mission to enable millions of Americans to engage in our democracy,” she stated. “What we are witnessing is a persistent effort to undermine public trust in what is achievable. This is merely a new iteration of ‘the big lie.’”
ActBlue serves as the primary venue for collecting donations for Democratic candidates and initiatives. Trump’s recent directive adds to a series of actions his administration has taken to weaken Democratic fundraising capabilities, according to reports from the New York Times, suggesting that these moves could significantly diminish the Democrats’ ability to compete effectively in upcoming elections.
The memorandum emerges in the backdrop of ongoing unproven allegations regarding ActBlue from various right-wing sources. Elon Musk has publicly expressed skepticism about ActBlue, echoing sentiments of foul play in his tweets.
Republican lawmakers have formally requested the Treasury Department to investigate the platform. Representative Darrell Issa, in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in March, argued for an inquiry into ActBlue’s possible facilitation of donations from questionable organizations, referencing unverified media reports about ActBlue’s supposed severance of ties with a Palestinian advocacy organization.
Congressman Bryan Steil, chair of the House Administration Committee, also sought documentation from ActBlue last October concerning its donor verification measures and potential loopholes that could allow foreign interference in the U.S. political arena. He noted that these documents revealed that the organization had begun rejecting donations from certain sources, such as gift cards, to enhance its security protocols.
Internal tensions within ActBlue have surfaced as well, as reported by the New York Times, leading to the resignation of several key officials. Republican demands for further documentation stemmed from these changes within the organization.
This scrutiny of ActBlue coincides with Democrats’ strategic preparations for regaining majorities in Congress during the midterm elections. On the same Thursday, the Democratic National Committee unveiled a strategy to rejuvenate state Democratic parties by committing to monthly financial support from the national committee to state parties, with a particular emphasis on bolstering resources in less hospitable states.
Source
www.theguardian.com