Several prominent progressives, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, continue to gather campaign funds through ActBlue. This comes despite investigations into allegations that the platform failed to prevent illegal foreign donations from entering U.S. political campaigns.
The fundraising platform gained attention after a video showed 88-year-old Michigan resident Elizabeth Waffle disputing nearly $150,000 in donations attributed to her. Although she used ActBlue, she challenged the amount recorded in her name. The Federal Election Commission’s records show over 15,000 contributions attributed to her over six years.
ActBlue claims it has processed over $19 billion in donations since its 2004 inception. It primarily serves Democratic candidates, party committees, and progressive organizations. The platform’s mission is to counteract special interests dominating U.S. politics.
Fraud Concerns and Investigation
Republicans assert that ActBlue is susceptible to fraud and illegal foreign donations. Since 2023, House committees have investigated whether the platform’s fraud-prevention practices are adequate. ActBlue denies any wrongdoing.
In April 2025, an interim report revealed that internal ActBlue records detected 237 donations with foreign IP addresses using domestic prepaid cards within 30 days in late 2024. Investigators consider this a sign of fraudulent activity. The investigation continues, with no conclusive findings yet.
Waffle’s Disputed Donations
Elizabeth Waffle of Milan, Michigan, acknowledged making donations but refuted the nearly $150,000 attributed to her. According to Federal Election Commission records reviewed by Fox News Digital, over 16,000 contributions were linked to her. Waffle insists that something is wrong with these records since she does not have that amount of money.
ActBlue continues to be a key platform for many Democratic campaigns, including those of El-Sayed, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and others. Despite the ongoing investigation, it maintains its operations without having been found guilty of any violations.
Political Reactions
The Republican National Committee has criticized Democrats for continuing to use ActBlue due to the ongoing congressional investigations. They argue that Democrats support their interests despite allegations against ActBlue. ActBlue, however, denies all allegations, claiming the attacks are politically motivated and asserting that its fraud-prevention measures are sufficient.
Ongoing Inquiry and Responses
The House Administration Committee, led by Chairman Bryan Steil, is reviewing Waffle’s case as part of its larger investigation. Steil confirmed that ActBlue employees have refused to answer questions about potential fraud, with the CEO, Regina Wallace-Jones, invoking the Fifth Amendment during congressional interviews. These actions have not led to any charges against her.
The investigation into ActBlue’s practices continues without any definitive conclusion.
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