Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway opened a consumer-fraud investigation Friday into ActBlue, the liberal fundraising machine that processed nearly $1.8 billion in 2025 for about 23,000 Democratic candidates and progressive groups.
Hanaway’s office says it is looking at possible violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, including fraud, misrepresentation of foreign contributions, and unfair practices.
According to a press release from her office:
Political contributions from foreign entities in any form are strictly prohibited by federal law. After investigating ActBlue, the U.S. House Committee on Administration forwarded information regarding its conduct to the Attorney General’s Office for potential investigation. The Attorney General’s investigation will examine whether ActBlue sent any funds raised through fraudulent contributions to a Missouri political office, campaign, or committee. ActBlue is a fundraising platform widely used by almost 23,000 Democratic candidates and groups. In 2025, they raised nearly $1.8 billion for progressive causes across the nation.
Recent reports indicate that through faulty, potentially deliberately unsound, donation verification processes, ActBlue could have received and used money directly from foreign sources. It is also suspected that ActBlue receives donations by way of prepaid cards or gift cards, a difficult-to-trace method that has been used by foreign donors to conceal contributions. Additionally, there is reason to believe fraudulent contributions are being made to ActBlue under false identities or on behalf of other individuals without their knowledge.
The Attorney General’s Office is also inquiring about multiple resignations, terminations, and whistleblower complaints. Employees who may have flagged weaknesses in fraud-prevention systems, objected to internal decisions, or believed ActBlue was not properly addressing fraud risk were potentially suppressed or punished for speaking out.
“When political fundraising is compromised, public trust and the foundations of our democracy are put at risk. Missourians deserve a political system built on honesty and confidence that campaigns are not being financed through unlawful foreign sources,” said General Hanaway.
“Political fundraising must never become a pathway to deception, influence, or special treatment,” Hanaway added.
Hanaway’s investigators are working to determine if any money raised on a bad contribution landed in a Missouri campaign, committee, or office.
ActBlue has until 10 a.m. Central on October 8 to turn over documents, communications, and internal records.
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