As Congress ramps up its investigation into online political fundraising, GOP leaders are raising alarms about potential foreign interference in U.S. elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson warned Thursday of a “massive scandal,” alleging that foreign adversaries like China, Iran, and Russia may be funneling illicit donations to Democrats. He claims these funds could ultimately support Democratic candidates, including Vice President Kamala Harris.
Johnson shared these concerns in an interview with Just the News, vowing that Republican lawmakers would take action if these allegations prove to be true. According to Johnson, the GOP’s probe suggests foreign governments might be laundering funds through ActBlue, a popular online fundraising platform for Democratic campaigns. “This is a massive scandal,” Johnson declared, adding that such foreign involvement would have serious national security implications if confirmed.
The controversy centers on a confidential memo from House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, who disclosed that the Treasury Department holds hundreds of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) related to alleged money laundering activities involving ActBlue.
These reports, which flag unusual financial transactions, raise concerns about possible illegal donations being funneled to the Democratic Party. Although there’s no evidence that the Harris campaign or other Democratic candidates are aware of any wrongdoing, Republicans are pressing for answers about ActBlue’s funding sources and security protocols.
Comer and other prominent Republicans, including House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, Senator Ron Johnson, and 19 state attorneys general, have intensified their scrutiny of ActBlue. They argue that the platform’s reliance on small-dollar donations makes it susceptible to exploitation by foreign actors posing as U.S. citizens. On Wednesday, Steil issued a subpoena to ActBlue, seeking records to determine whether China, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela may be using the platform to disguise illegal contributions. Steil raised concerns that ActBlue may not have implemented adequate measures to prevent identity theft and fraud, potentially opening the door to covert foreign donations.
Johnson stated that further details would emerge soon, predicting that “everyone will have to” cover the story once more information is available. Speaking on the John Solomon Reports podcast, he speculated that foreign entities might be breaking down large sums of money into smaller donations, making it appear as though individual Americans are contributing. “These are all allegations,” Johnson acknowledged, emphasizing that the claims must be verified through investigation. However, he expressed confidence in the validity of early evidence suggesting a “massive, massive operation” aimed at influencing the 2024 elections.
The GOP’s concerns are further fueled by reports from citizens who claim they’ve found evidence of fraudulent donations in their names through ActBlue. Johnson pointed to a recent experiment he conducted, where individuals discovered unauthorized donations attributed to them after using a newly launched website designed to verify such activity. “I’m with lifelong Republicans, and they have no idea that their names and addresses are being used for supposedly small-dollar donations,” Johnson said, describing how prevalent the issue appears to be.
ActBlue, a major force in Democratic fundraising since its founding in 2004, has facilitated more than $16 billion in donations for liberal causes. The organization has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that it is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigations. However, in a revelation to Congress and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, ActBlue admitted that it does not always require credit card verification (CVV codes) to confirm donor identities, which some lawmakers argue could increase the risk of fraudulent donations.
Johnson has raised concerns about the possible complicity of “liberal High Command” in any unlawful activities, suggesting that top Democratic strategists might have knowingly allowed foreign funds to enter U.S. elections. He speculated that some liberal operatives may view the potential legal fallout as a worthwhile trade-off for an influx of foreign cash to secure election wins. “I think somewhere at liberal High Command, they decided the benefit outweighs the risk,” Johnson said. “We’ll have this avalanche of cash, and we’ll make sure we win the election. They’ll never be able to unwind the results.”
The controversy underscores the stakes in the battle over political fundraising, particularly as lawmakers consider potential security gaps in online platforms like ActBlue. The allegation that foreign adversaries could be leveraging these platforms to influence U.S. elections has fueled concerns over election integrity and sparked calls for greater transparency in digital campaign finance.
While Johnson and other Republicans have been vocal about their concerns, they also voiced disappointment with the apparent lack of awareness from senior intelligence officials. Johnson noted that recent discussions with intelligence leaders revealed little familiarity with the Treasury’s SARs or the GOP’s investigation. “If they ever made that available, I didn’t know about it. Nobody brought it to my attention,” Johnson said, explaining that Congress had to inform authorities about the SARs’ existence rather than the other way around.
As the investigation progresses, Johnson and his Republican colleagues are preparing for potential policy changes aimed at preventing foreign interference in campaign finance. The GOP is expected to push for stronger verification methods on political donation platforms, particularly through the use of security measures like CVV codes on credit cards. However, ActBlue’s influence on Democratic fundraising could complicate any regulatory efforts, with Democrats likely to resist changes they perceive as politically motivated.
Whether the allegations against ActBlue hold up under scrutiny remains to be seen, but the implications of the investigation are already causing ripples across the political landscape. For Johnson and his allies, the priority remains clear: ensuring that American elections are protected from foreign interference, whether that influence comes through online platforms or other means.
