Trump orders Justice Department to investigate Democrats' top
fundraising platform
[April 25, 2025]
By MICHELLE L. PRICE
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has ordered the Justice
Department to investigate the Democratic Party's top fundraising
platform, the latest example of Trump using the tools of the government
to go after his political opponents.
Trump, in an executive order signed Thursday, directed Attorney General
Pam Bondi to investigate allegations that Republicans have raised that
ActBlue allows illegal campaign donations.
Democrats, who had anticipated they would be targeted, condemned the
move Thursday and ActBlue called it an “oppressive use of power” by the
White House.
“The Trump Administration’s and GOP’s targeting of ActBlue is part of
their brazen attack on democracy in America. Today’s escalation by the
White House is blatantly unlawful and needs to be seen for what it is:
Donald Trump’s latest front in his campaign to stamp out all political,
electoral and ideological opposition," ActBlue said in a statement.
ActBlue said it would pursue “all legal avenues to protect and defend
itself.”
"ActBlue will continue its mission and work undeterred and
uninterrupted, providing a safe, secure fundraising platform for the
millions of grassroots donors who rely on us.”
Trump's order directs Bondi, in consultation with the Treasury
Department, to investigate allegations that online fundraising
platforms, and specifically ActBlue, have been used by some to “make
‘straw’ or ‘dummy’ contributions or foreign contributions to political
candidates and committees.”
The findings of the investigation will be reported back with 180 days,
according to the order.
Since taking office, Trump has sought to use the powers of the
government to retaliate against his opponents, including ordering
security clearances to be stripped and punishing law firms linked to
prosecutors who have investigated him or who have ties to his
adversaries.
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President Donald Trump arrives at Leesburg Executive Airport on
Marine One in Leesburg, Va., Thursday, April 24, 2025, en route to
Trump National Golf Club Washington DC in Sterling, Va. (AP
Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
ActBlue, which Democratic campaigns have used for two decades, had
helped power an outpouring of small-dollar donations to candidates
and causes. It was so successful that Republicans eventually created
a counterpart, WinRed — which Trump did not target in the order.
Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley applauded the
investigation, saying in a statement, “The Democrats’ Dark Money
scam has gone on long enough."
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene,
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, Democratic
Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand and
Democratic Governors Association Chair Laura Kelly denounced the
executive order in a joint statement.
“Donald Trump’s memorandum targeting ActBlue is designed to
undermine democratic participation — and it’s no wonder why,” the
statement said. “He knows Americans are already fed up with his
chaotic agenda that is driving the economy off a cliff, so he’s
trying to block lawful grassroots donations from supporters giving
just $5 or $10 to candidates who oppose him while further empowering
the corrupt billionaires who already control his administration.”
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