Mark Block Sues ActBlue for Identity Theft and Civil Racketeering in Political Donations

Two directional signs: Republicans and Democrats.

Republican consultant Mark Block files a lawsuit against ActBlue, accusing the Democratic fundraising platform of identity theft and civil racketeering in a case that could expose vulnerabilities in political donation systems.

At a Glance

Mark Block alleges over 385 unauthorized donations totaling $884 were made in his name to 62 Democrat campaigns via ActBlue
The lawsuit claims ActBlue engaged in “smurfing” to potentially launder contributions through anonymous bulk reports
House Administration Committee investigations have uncovered suspicious donations through ActBlue across 19 states
Multiple state attorneys general, including those in Texas and Virginia, have launched investigations into ActBlue’s practices
ActBlue denies wrongdoing but has agreed to implement additional security measures

Republican Consultant Takes Legal Action Against ActBlue

Mark Block, a Republican consultant, has filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin state courts against ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s primary fundraising platform. The lawsuit alleges that Block’s personal information was misused to make unauthorized donations to Democrat candidates, constituting identity theft and civil racketeering. Block claims that over 385 donations totaling $884 were made in his name to 62 Democrat campaigns, including Kamala Harris’ Victory Fund, without his consent.

The lawsuit, filed with assistance from the America First Policy Institute’s legal arm, accuses ActBlue of being part of a racketeering enterprise under Wisconsin’s Organized Crime Control Act (WOCCA). Block’s legal team argues that ActBlue engaged in “smurfing,” a method to potentially launder contributions through anonymous bulk reports, exploiting Federal Election Commission rules on small donations under $200.

The Committee’s rigorous investigation into ActBlue has uncovered weak financial standards and suspicious recurring donations on the Democrats’ main online fundraising platform.

Chairman @RepBryanSteil recently provided an update on the @VickiMcKenna Show ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/V3kfM3D8FP

— House Admin. Committee GOP (@HouseAdmin) October 10, 2024

Widespread Investigations and Concerns

The case has drawn attention from various quarters, with the House Administration Committee uncovering tens of thousands of suspicious donations through ActBlue across 19 states. This has prompted investigations by multiple state attorneys general, including Ken Paxton of Texas and Jason Miyares of Virginia. These investigations focus on potential fraud and compliance with applicable laws.

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, led by Chairman James Comer and Representative Nick Langworthy, has also launched an investigation into potential fraud linked to ActBlue campaign contributions. The committee has requested Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) from the U.S. Department of Treasury related to ActBlue transactions.

ActBlue’s Response and Security Measures

While ActBlue denies any wrongdoing, the platform has agreed to implement additional security measures in response to the allegations. This includes the use of Card Verification Value (CVV) security numbers on credit cards for donations, a step aimed at preventing fraud. The Texas Attorney General’s office reported that ActBlue is cooperating with ongoing investigations.

However, concerns persist about the potential for foreign interference in U.S. elections through online donation platforms. The House Oversight Committee has expressed worry about the possibility of foreign nationals and other bad actors exploiting these platforms to violate campaign finance laws.

Differing Perspectives on Allegations

Legal experts and former Federal Election Commission officials have offered differing views on the validity of the allegations against ActBlue. Saurav Ghosh, a former FEC attorney, explained that contributions through platforms like ActBlue are recorded as two transactions, which can cause confusion. Some experts have called the claims of campaign finance irregularities by ActBlue “dubious.”

As investigations continue and the lawsuit progresses, the case shines a spotlight on the complexities of campaign finance in the digital age and the challenges of maintaining the integrity of political donations. The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for how online fundraising platforms operate in future elections.