Published on April 24, 2025
This presidential memorandum directs the Attorney General and Treasury Secretary to investigate the use of online fundraising platforms for illegal campaign contributions, specifically targeting "straw donor" schemes and foreign donations. The action focuses on addressing reports of platforms like ActBlue being used to circumvent campaign finance laws through methods such as breaking down large donations into smaller ones and using prepaid cards to mask donor identities, with specific mention of 22 significant fraud campaigns discovered.
While presented as a measure to protect electoral integrity, the memorandum's singular focus on ActBlue, a platform predominantly used by Democratic candidates, while omitting mention of Republican-affiliated platforms, suggests potential political targeting. The broad investigative authority granted could be used to disrupt Democratic fundraising operations under the guise of law enforcement, particularly given the timing ahead of an election cycle and the vague definition of "all lawful authority" granted to investigate these matters.
Though the memorandum addresses legitimate concerns about campaign finance violations, its narrow focus and timing suggest it may serve as a sophisticated mechanism for political interference in campaign fundraising. The public should remain vigilant about how this investigative authority is wielded and whether enforcement actions demonstrate partisan application of these oversight measures.
April 24, 2025 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT SUBJECT: Investigation into Unlawful “Straw Donor” and Foreign Contributions in American Elections Federal law (52 U.S.C. 30121 and 30122) strictly prohibits making political contributions in the name of another person, as well as contributions by foreign nationals. Notwithstanding these laws designed to protect American democracy, press reports and investigations by congressional committees have generated extremely troubling evidence that online fundraising platforms have been willing participants in schemes to launder excessive and prohibited contributions to political candidates and committees. Specifically, these reports raise concerns that malign actors are seeking to evade Federal source and amount limitations on political contributions by breaking down large contributions from one source into many smaller contributions, nominally attributed to numerous other individuals, potentially without the consent or even knowledge of the putative contributors. The reports also raise concerns that such “straw donations” are being made through “dummy” accounts, potentially using gift cards or prepaid credit cards to evade detection. Further, there is evidence to suggest that foreign nationals are seeking to misuse online fundraising platforms to improperly influence American elections. A recent House of Representatives investigation revealed that a platform named ActBlue had in recent years detected at least 22 “significant fraud campaigns”, nearly half of which had a foreign nexus. During a 30-day window during the 2024 campaign, the platform detected 237 donations from foreign IP addresses using prepaid cards, indicating that this activity remains a pressing concern. These activities undermine the integrity of our electoral process. Therefore, I direct the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to use all lawful authority, as necessary, to investigate allegations regarding the unlawful use of online fundraising platforms to make “straw” or “dummy” contributions or foreign contributions to political candidates and committees, and to take all appropriate actions to enforce the law. I further direct the Attorney General to report back to me through the Counsel to the President within 180 days of the date of this memorandum on the results of the investigation. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. DONALD J. TRUMP