The core issue, which may constitute a criminal offense, is that ActBlue allegedly failed to filter out substantial donations from foreign individuals and entities. In response to this concern, Congressman Steil requested “documents related to ActBlue’s donor verification policies and the potential for foreign actors to use the platform to launder illicit money into U.S. political campaigns.”
The investigation was prompted by the fact that ActBlue was processing donations without requiring the CVV number from credit cards, raising the possibility of foreign and illegal contributions being accepted. As stated by his office, “ActBlue was accepting political contributions without a card verification value (CVV). Chairman Steil sent a letter demanding clarification on ActBlue’s practices, questioning whether they comply with federal campaign finance laws and effectively prevent foreign and illegal contributions.”
