On Monday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton initiated legal proceedings against ActBlue, accusing the Democratic fundraising platform of engaging in widespread donor fraud. This lawsuit, lodged in Tarrant County Court, demands over $1 million in damages and draws attention to a significant report by The New York Times. The report had previously incited Republican committee leaders to argue that ActBlue had misrepresented its procedures for preventing fraud.
The court filing highlights specific allegations, stating, “Among other misrepresentations, despite knowing—and representing to regulators—that resuming its acceptance of gift cards would open the door to election influence ‘from high-risk/sanctioned countries’ and enable foreign nationals and other ineligible persons to make unlawful contributions to federal and state candidates, ActBlue went back to accepting them.”
Rock Robinson, leading the investigation for Paxton’s office, emphasized in the legal document, “This was not an oversight. It was a continuation of ActBlue’s long-standing pattern and practice of tolerating rampant donor fraud on its platform so long as the fraud stayed below the radar of regulators.”
Robinson further pointed out that despite being aware that domestic prepaid debit cards pose a greater risk for unlawful contributions than cash does, ActBlue persisted in allowing their use. This ongoing acceptance has raised concerns about the potential for unauthorized contributions.
The lawsuit comes in the wake of ActBlue’s significant financial role, with the platform having processed more than $1.78 billion for Democratic campaigns and causes in 2025. The case promises to scrutinize the fundraising platform’s practices closely, as it unfolds in the Texas courts.
The suit cites more than $1.78 billion that ActBlue processed for Democratic campaigns and causes in 2025.
Reps for ActBlue did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
