This is a bombshell, albeit a few months too late. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sent a request to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) to change rules following his office’s nearly year-long investigation to straw donations made through left-wing donations processor ActBlue.
According to Paxton, foreign money as well as domestic money that is greater than the legal limits are being funneled through “straw donations” to enrich Democrat campaigns and leftist causes.
As he noted on 𝕏:
Our investigation into ActBlue has uncovered facts indicating that bad actors can illegally interfere in American elections by disguising political donations.
It is imperative that the FEC close off the avenues we have identified by which foreign contributions or contributions in excess of legal limits could be unlawfully funneled to political campaigns, bypassing campaign finance regulations and compromising our electoral system.
I am calling on the FEC to immediately begin rulemaking to secure our elections from any criminal actors exploiting these vulnerabilities.
BREAKING: Our investigation into ActBlue has uncovered facts indicating that bad actors can illegally interfere in American elections by disguising political donations.
It is imperative that the FEC close off the avenues we have identified by which foreign contributions or… pic.twitter.com/8E5vfaYxDL
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) October 21, 2024
Here’s the news story from Bethany Blankley at The Center Square:
AG Paxton: Texas Investigation Into ActBlue Uncovers Suspicious Donations
(The Center Square) – A nearly year-long investigation into ActBlue, a Democratic Party online donation platform, alleges a large number of suspicious donations have been made, resulting in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton petitioning the Federal Election Commission to get involved.
On Monday, Paxton petitioned the FEC to consider implementing new regulations to prevent straw donations from being made on online political fundraising platforms.
Since launching the investigation, Paxton said it’s been publicly reported that potentially fraudulent transactions have occurred on political committee online platforms.
“Certain platforms appear to facilitate straw donor transactions, where a contributor disguises his identity by attributing his contribution to another, unaware person,” the petition states.
Alleged straw donations are being made through the use of prepaid credit cards, which he says “are a favorite tool of fraudsters.”
Paxton’s office launched an investigation into ActBlue in December to determine if the platform’s operations were compliant with all applicable laws. In response to the investigation, Act Blue implemented a new measure in August requiring donors using credit cards to provide “CVV” codes. Paxton says this alone isn’t enough to prevent straw political donations from being made.
Preserve your retirement by backing it with physical precious metals. Request the free, definitive Gold Guide from Genesis Gold Group.
The OAG’s investigation says it found a large number of suspicious donations that were made “through obscured identities and untraceable means,” necessitating FEC action.
Through the use of prepaid cards it “appears that straw donations are systematically being made using false identities, through untraceable payment methods,” Paxton said.
Texas’ FEC petition includes partially redacted findings from the OAG’s investigation and recommends that the FEC implement regulations to close fundraising loopholes “that jeopardize American election integrity.” The FEC previously considered implementing such regulations, which ActBlue vocally opposed.
ActBlue’s opposition “is no longer tenable” in light of Texas’ investigation, Paxton said. “If not corrected by the FEC, bad actors can – with trivial ease – illegally funnel foreign money into American elections, exceed political contribution limits, and more.”
“Certain platforms appear to facilitate straw donor transactions, where a contributor disguises his identity by attributing his contribution to another, unaware person,” the petition states.
Alleged straw donations are being made through the use of prepaid credit cards, which he says “are a favorite tool of fraudsters.”
Paxton’s office launched an investigation into ActBlue in December to determine if the platform’s operations were compliant with all applicable laws. In response to the investigation, Act Blue implemented a new measure in August requiring donors using credit cards to provide “CVV” codes. Paxton says this alone isn’t enough to prevent straw political donations from being made.
The OAG’s investigation says it found a large number of suspicious donations that were made “through obscured identities and untraceable means,” necessitating FEC action.
Through the use of prepaid cards it “appears that straw donations are systematically being made using false identities, through untraceable payment methods,” Paxton said.
Texas’ FEC petition includes partially redacted findings from the OAG’s investigation and recommends that the FEC implement regulations to close fundraising loopholes “that jeopardize American election integrity.” The FEC previously considered implementing such regulations, which ActBlue vocally opposed.
ActBlue’s opposition “is no longer tenable” in light of Texas’ investigation, Paxton said. “If not corrected by the FEC, bad actors can – with trivial ease – illegally funnel foreign money into American elections, exceed political contribution limits, and more.”
ActBlue says it’s raised more than $15.8 billion online since 2004.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2024, it says “6.9 million unique donors gave over 31 million contributions to 18,396 campaigns and organizations, totaling over $1.5 billion.”
“This quarter was the largest in ActBlue history,” it said.
Donors gave small amounts totaling $4.2 million to pro-abortion organizations in the quarter, a more than 208% increase from Q3 of 2020. They also gave small amounts totaling more than $5 million to pro-gun control groups, a 48% increase from the same period in 2020, it says.
ActBlue notes that 67.4% of all contributions were made with a saved payment method or digital wallet; 71.8% were made from a mobile device, a 14.8% increase from the third fiscal quarter of 2020.
“The record-breaking surge of small-dollar donations in Q3 2024 has clearly demonstrated the power of grassroots energy in shaping America’s political landscape,” ActBlue said. “As the Democratic Party heads into the final stretch of the campaign, these contributions are fueling races across the country, from local contests to the presidential election. Democrats are positioned to fight for victory in November, driven by this commitment and enthusiasm.”
Last month, U.S. House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. raised concerns with the Treasury Secretary that ActBlue was being used to evade campaign finance laws, The Center Square reported.
The federal and Texas investigations were launched after U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, demanded answers from the FEC in April 2023 about ActBlue’s “schemes to garner illegal campaign donations.”
Rubio cited reports saying that “numerous individuals, including senior citizens, have purportedly donated to ActBlue thousands of times a year” but many “had no idea that their names and addresses were being used to give thousands of dollars in political donations, with most of these ‘donations’ going to ActBlue. It should come as no surprise that ActBlue serves as a vessel for fraud, considering the intentional lack of security engrained within their donation processes and systems.”
Over the last several months, ActBlue has argued that small donations represent “a new standard for grassroots political engagement. Donors from across the nation showed incredible generosity and a new sense of energy and momentum in electing Democrats up and down the ballot.”
It’s becoming increasingly clear that fiat currencies across the globe, including the U.S. Dollar, are under attack. Paper money is losing its value, translating into insane inflation and less value in our life’s savings.
Genesis Gold Group believes physical precious metals are an amazing option for those seeking to move their wealth or retirement to higher ground. Whether Central Bank Digital Currencies replace current fiat currencies or not, precious metals are poised to retain or even increase in value. This is why central banks and mega-asset managers like BlackRock are moving much of their holdings to precious metals.
As a Christian company, Genesis Gold Group has maintained a perfect 5 out of 5 rating with the Better Business Bureau. Their faith-driven values allow them to help Americans protect their life’s savings without the gimmicks used by most precious metals companies. Reach out to them today to see how they can streamline the rollover or transfer of your current and previous retirement accounts.
The Best Thing for America Would Be a Donald Trump Blowout
by The Federalist
If Democrats had their way, Donald Trump wouldn’t be anywhere near the presidency again. So wrote MSNBC’s Hayes Brown on the eve of the 2024 election’s final day. But Trump is near the presidency — perhaps by decisive margins — and Democrats are apoplectic. The “biggest contributor to the unease…
If These Two States Go to Trump Early, We Can Have Results on Election Night [VIDEO]
by Rumble Video
Two blue states, Virginia and New Hampshire, are in play during the presidential election based on the most recent polling data. If Donald Trump can achieve victory in both of these states early, it’s possible that we can get election results on Election Day. Otherwise, it could be weeks…
Most Accurate Pollster From 2020 Drops Final Numbers
by JD Rucker
Atlas Intel, which was hands down the most accurate public poll during the 2020 election, just dropped its final poll of the season. It points to landslide victory for Donald Trump. If Kamala Harris is able to win Minnesota and Virginia, two blue states that are in jeopardy of being…
Vivek Ramaswamy’s ‘Anti-Woke’ Financial Firm Moving To Dallas
by Dallas Express
Strive Enterprises, co-founded by former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, is slated to move its headquarters to Dallas. The wealth management firm, launched in 2022, is known for its “non-woke” and anti-ESG exchange-traded funds (EFTs). ESG, which refers to environmental, social, and governance policies, is incorporated into the investment mandates…
Regardless of who wins the election, economists are pointing to physical gold and silver as hedges against economic turbulence ahead. Reach out to our sponsors at Genesis Gold Group, a faith-driven precious metals company, to learn how you can rollover or transfer your retirement accounts into a Genesis Gold IRA.
Fed Set to Shift to Moderate Interest Rate Cuts, but the Path to Lower Rates Remains Uncertain
by The Epoch Times
The Federal Reserve’s policy-making arm, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), will likely shift from the aggressive interest rate cut during its September meeting to a moderate cut in its November meeting, to be held on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7. However, the path to lower interest rates remains to…
10 Times as Many Illegal Immigrants Came to US as Jobs Were Created Under Biden-Harris Admin in October
by The Post Millennial
The Biden-Harris administration allowed for 10 times the number of illegal immigrants into the US in October as jobs created by the private sector during the same time. This comes as border and economy have two of the top main issues for voters in the election. While businesses only created…
It Was the Night Before the Election, and Everyone Was Freaking Out
by Michael Snyder
(End of the American Dream)—I have never seen so much doubt, worry, anxiety, fear and panic as we approach a presidential election. All over the country, people are freaking out right now. Democrats are freaking out because the early voting numbers are so dramatically different from 2020. Republicans are freaking…
Losing Power? The Elites and the Leftist Mob Would Rather Burn It All to the Ground
by Brandon Smith
(Alt-Market)—It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a significant positive evolution within American society. In the early days of the Ron Paul movement I remember the hopeful groundswell of support for a new conservative epoch that adopted a little Libertarianism and a recognition that most “conspiracy theories” are actually…
“Not Patterns That You’ve Seen”: CNBC Guest Says Many Trump Voters Were Democrats “20 Years Ago”
by Harold Hutchison, Daily Caller News Foundation
(DCNF)—A former Trump administration official told CNBC host Joe Kernen Monday that a lot of voters who backed former President Donald Trump were Democrats during the 2004 election. Trump has gained support among both black and Hispanic voters, largely due to the economy and immigration, before President Joe Biden announced…
The New Kennedy-Nixon Moment: Why Politicians Must Master Podcasts to Win
by Daily Signal
(The Daily Signal)—Jeff Bezos is right. Americans do not trust the news media, but he misunderstands why. Americans are tired of talking heads and the opinions of editorialists masquerading as journalists. But this should not be confused with declining interest in news or politics; viewers are simply moving to channels…
‘All Government’: JD Vance Spotlights the ‘Kamala Harris Economy in a Nutshell’
by Daily Wire
Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), a venture capitalist-turned-politician who is now the running mate of former President Donald Trump, argued this weekend that the U.S. economy under their rival in the 2024 White House race, Vice President Kamala Harris, is defined by a growing number of government jobs while the private…
Final Reminder of the Three Issues Driving This Election
by JD Rucker
(Substack)—In case you hadn’t noticed, tensions are high. Americans are at each other’s throats — sometimes literally — as we approach the finale of the most insane election cycle in history. The sitting President ended his bid for a second term. His opponent was charged with dozens of made up…
If Kamala Wins, Prepare for Climate Change Authoritarianism and the Destruction of America’s Economy
by Ethan Huff, Natural News
(Natural News)—When it comes to “green” energy policies, California is often looked at as the model and example for other states. Did you know, though, that California ranks barely above the world average for so-called “fossil fuel” usage, even as it sits on large reserves full of crude oil and natural…