Ken Paxton Refers ActBlue Investigation to DOJ

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has referred an investigation into ActBlue, a progressive fundraising platform, to the U.S. Department of Justice, citing concerns over illegal straw donations. The investigation, initiated in December 2023, revealed that bad actors could be using false identities to make campaign contributions, thus evading legal restrictions. Despite ActBlue's implementation of CVV codes to enhance security, Paxton's findings suggest that these measures do not fully mitigate the potential abuses. In addition to the referral to the DOJ, Paxton filed a petition with the Federal Election Commission seeking regulatory changes to close loopholes that facilitate such illegal activities. He has emphasized the urgency of addressing these electoral violations, stating that obscuring donor identities is illegal. The implications of the DOJ's response to Paxton's referral remain uncertain.