House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil prepares to escalate his investigation into ActBlue's fundraising practices.

According to Just the News, Steil has announced plans to refer findings from his ongoing investigation of the progressive fundraising platform ActBlue to the incoming Trump administration's Justice Department, with expected Attorney General Pam Bondi at the helm.

The investigation centers on allegations that ActBlue's platform may have allowed illegal foreign contributions to flow into American political campaigns due to insufficient security measures.

Steil's committee has been examining claims of potential foreign interference from countries including Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and China, raising concerns about the integrity of political fundraising mechanisms.

Security Measures Under Congressional Scrutiny

House Administration Committee's investigation has revealed troubling patterns in ActBlue's donor verification processes. Recent developments show that the platform has implemented changes to its verification system, prompted by mounting pressure from congressional oversight. These modifications now automatically reject donations from foreign prepaid cards, domestic gift cards, and high-risk countries.

The timing of these security updates has drawn particular attention from investigators. ActBlue's policy changes came just three days after Steil introduced the Secure Handling of Internet Electronic Donations (SHIELD) Act on September 6.

Prior to this adjustment, the platform did not automatically block donations made with foreign gift cards, raising questions about the extent of potential foreign interference in American political fundraising.

Congressional leaders have taken decisive steps to gather more information about potential illicit activities. In October, Steil joined forces with Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson to demand answers from high-ranking government officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.

Congressional Investigation Reaches Critical Phase

Committee Chairman Steil expressed optimism about the investigation's future under the incoming administration.

Speaking on the Just the News, No Noise TV show, Steil stated:

Once Pam Bondi comes in as attorney general under the Trump administration, we then have a partner at the United States Department of Justice to look at this, to do the investigation into bad actors, and to hold anyone who is engaged in this activity accountable.

The investigation has uncovered patterns that suggest possible exploitation of U.S. donors through unauthorized straw donations. Investigators have specifically requested access to Suspicious Activity Reports related to money flowing through the fundraising platform, as generated by U.S. financial institutions' anti-money-laundering protocols.

ActBlue maintains its innocence amid the growing scrutiny. The organization has publicly stated its commitment to cooperation with ongoing investigations while highlighting its long-standing reputation in the political fundraising sphere. Their response emphasizes two decades of service to Democratic and progressive campaigns.

Legislative Response Takes Shape

The SHIELD Act represents a significant legislative effort to address the identified vulnerabilities in online political fundraising. This legislative initiative aims to establish stronger safeguards against foreign monetary influence in American politics. The act's introduction has already influenced industry practices, as evidenced by ActBlue's swift implementation of enhanced security measures.

Congressional Republicans have expressed frustration with what they perceive as a lack of interest from the current Justice Department in pursuing these allegations. Steil's criticism points to a four-year gap in meaningful investigation, suggesting that previous opportunities to address these concerns were overlooked.

Investigation Outcome Awaits New Administration

House GOP leaders prepare to transfer their findings to the incoming Trump administration's Justice Department, marking a significant shift in the investigation's trajectory. The transfer of power in January could potentially accelerate the probe into ActBlue's practices and lead to more stringent oversight of political fundraising platforms.

Steil's committee continues gathering evidence and documentation while awaiting the transition. The investigation's scope encompasses both technical aspects of ActBlue's platform security and broader implications for campaign finance integrity.

Republican lawmakers anticipate more aggressive pursuit of potential violations under new leadership at the Justice Department. This expectation stems from their assessment that previous enforcement efforts were insufficient to address the scope of the problem.

Key Findings and Future Actions

The House Administration Committee's investigation into ActBlue's fundraising practices has uncovered potential security vulnerabilities in political donation systems. Chairman Bryan Steil plans to present these findings to the incoming Trump administration's Justice Department, where Pam Bondi is expected to serve as Attorney General. The probe focuses on allegations that ActBlue's platform may have enabled illegal foreign contributions to enter American political campaigns, with particular concern about money originating from Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and China.