ICYMI: AG Alan Wilson requests SLED investigation into online political fundraising platforms like ActBlue

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) — South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has requested that the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) open a preliminary inquiry into online political fundraising platforms, including ActBlue. 

In a letter to SLED Chief Mark Keel, Wilson asked that agents be assigned to investigate allegations involving suspicious activity on platforms such as ActBlue. Agents will work in coordination with Wilson’s office and Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Creighton Waters. 

"Nonprofit and political entities must be fully transparent to reassure the public about the integrity of our electoral process," Wilson said. 

This action follows a previous letter Attorney General Wilson sent on August 22, 2024, raising serious concerns about potentially fraudulent activity involving ActBlue, ActBlue Civics, and ActBlue Charities. Wilson’s office was alerted to allegations of possible "smurfing," a money laundering tactic where large donations are disguised as multiple smaller ones, and other questionable donation practices. 

Wilson pointed to alarming reports of individuals listed as "unemployed" or with modest occupations making implausibly large and frequent contributions through ActBlue platforms. If true, these practices could violate South Carolina’s charitable, regulatory, criminal, and campaign finance laws, and potentially federal law as well. 

Attorney General Wilson emphasized that South Carolinians deserve full transparency to protect the integrity of elections and demanded ActBlue provide a detailed explanation of its donor verification procedures. 

You can read the letter here.