OPINION:
ActBlue, the largest Democratic fundraising platform in the country, is embroiled in a major scandal.
Earlier this month, ActBlue CEO and President Regina Wallace-Jones appeared before the House Administration Committee and refused to answer questions about the platform’s campaign finance scandal. The title of the hearing was “Preventing Fraudulent Donations: Transparency, Verification, and Accountability.”
Chairman Bryan Steil, Wisconsin Republican, began the session with Ms. Wallace-Jones by saying: “Foreign funds have no place in American political campaigns. American elections are for American citizens only. Ms. Wallace-Jones, in 2023, I sent you this letter with five straightforward questions, with a goal of confirming that foreign funds are not in our elections and that ActBlue had adequate fraud prevention measures in place. You replied a month later with a four-page letter describing your fraud prevention policies and procedures that you had in place at ActBlue. But, according to The New York Times, your response to this committee may have been false and misleading. Ms. Wallace-Jones, when you signed this letter to me, did you believe that this letter was false and misleading?”
What was the response from the head of ActBlue? She said, “On the advice of my counsel, I respectfully decline to answer this question pursuant to my Fifth Amendment rights under the Constitution.”
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Ohio Republican, then asked Ms. Wallace-Jones: “Your board chairman said ActBlue accepted up to $38 million in contributions in 2024 that had the signs of foreign origin. How much fraud is too much fraud?”
Ms. Wallace-Jones gave the same reply.
This is no surprise to those who have been watching ActBlue’s questionable actions. In the spring of 2023, Kyle Corrigan of Bright Line Investigations conducted a series of interviews with political donors in Wisconsin.
As noted in the Bright Line Investigations report, these individuals donated the most times out of all donors in the state during the prior seven years. The investigator used information from the Federal Election Commission website to identify each donor’s employer information and property address.
What the investigator found appears to be identity theft targeting senior citizens on a significant scale, as part of a campaign fund scheme. Based on these findings, the U.S. Justice Department should look into these matters and consider criminal charges if the details are true.
On March 29, 2023, the investigator spoke with an 87-year-old woman at her home in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The report states that once the investigator explained the number and amount of donations listed under her name, she and her husband appeared angry that her name was being used fraudulently to make these donations.
The subject denied making the donations recorded.
An investigator interviewed an 87-year-old man from Sister Bay, Wisconsin, on April 6, 2023. The report says that “he denied making ANY political donations at all. He stated he only makes charitable donations and was very upset that someone was using his name to make political donations at all. He stated that he donates money to children’s hospitals and to boys’ group homes, but never makes political donations.”
On April 6, 2023, the investigator spoke with a 66-year-old man with a disability at his home in Appleton, Wisconsin. The report states that “he denied making 7,878 donations as well as the dollar amount reported, $93,168. The subject scoffed at the amount and stated, “Look where I’m living!” The subject was referring to the modest, run-down small apartment on the second floor of a converted home. He stated he donates $5 at times but could never afford to donate over $90,000 in the last 7 years.”
An investigator interviewed a 72-year-old woman from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, on April 6, 2023. According to the Bright Line Investigations report, “she denied making 9,463 political donations as well as $53,361 in donations.
“She stated that her husband allows her to make several political donations, but nowhere near $53,361. She also stated that she makes only several donations of $800-$1,000 per year in a lead-up to a big election, such as a presidential election.”
These are just a few of the reports prepared by Bright Line Investigations examining thousands of donations totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. If true, these appear to be cases of people stealing the identities of senior citizens to launder foreign funds to liberal political candidates.
The evidence is overwhelming. If it is proved true, we need more than congressional hearings. We need the Justice Department to take action. This is bigger than campaign finance violations; it is identity theft to funnel foreign money.
No wonder Ms. Wallace-Jones pleaded the Fifth before these panels. Time will tell whether anyone ends up in prison.
• Scott Walker is a columnist for The Washington Times. He was the 45th governor of Wisconsin and launched a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. He lives in Milwaukee and is the proud owner of a 2003 Harley-Davidson Road King. He can be reached at swalker@washingtontimes.com.
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