House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan have formally requested documents from Sift, a fraud detection service provider for ActBlue, the prominent Democratic fundraising platform.
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The letter seeks information on Sift’s fraud prevention efforts related to ActBlue transactions and communications involving reports from U.S. citizens alleging unauthorized or fraudulent contributions. Additionally, the request includes documentation of any communications between Sift and the Executive Branch regarding potentially fraudulent transactions on ActBlue.
Concerns have arisen from reports suggesting ActBlue’s platform may have been exploited for fraudulent donations, potentially from foreign sources. An analysis by the Committee on House Administration flagged irregularities, including donations that appeared inconsistent with the named donor’s financial capacity or political affiliation, as well as unusually frequent contributions from vulnerable groups such as elderly individuals.
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Chairmen Steil and Jordan have highlighted risks of foreign nationals exploiting ActBlue’s security measures, citing adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela as potential actors. The inquiry is part of a broader oversight effort to ensure compliance with campaign finance laws and safeguard U.S. elections from foreign interference.
The investigation follows previous actions by Chairman Steil, including an October 2023 letter to ActBlue questioning its donor verification practices. ActBlue’s response acknowledged that it does not require a Card Verification Value (CVV) for contributions, a standard fraud prevention measure. In September 2024, Steil introduced the SHIELD Act, aiming to tighten online donation security, including prohibiting contributions without CVV verification and banning the use of prepaid cards for political donations. The bill passed the Committee on House Administration by voice vote.
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ActBlue, in a statement responding to earlier inquiries, defended its fraud prevention measures as robust and compliant with federal laws. The organization emphasized steps to verify donor identities, block impermissible contributions, and use external tools to detect fraudulent activity. ActBlue stated it uses passport verification for donors with non-U.S. addresses and manually reviews flagged contributions to ensure compliance.
The investigation continues as lawmakers seek to address these security challenges through legislative and oversight efforts.
Associated documents for this story are available in our Public Information Archive.
Story by multiple RFHC contributors
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