Texas AG Paxton Sues ActBlue Over Alleged Misleading Donor Safeguards
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued ActBlue, alleging the Democratic fundraising platform allowed fraudulent and foreign donations.
Paxton's lawsuit accuses ActBlue of misleading donors about safeguards and of facilitating contributions that were fraudulent or originated from abroad. The filing seeks to hold the platform accountable under state law and to stop the alleged misconduct.
ActBlue is a major platform used by Democratic candidates and groups for online fundraising. Legal experts say such suits test how election law applies to digital payment intermediaries and could change online fundraising practices if courts side with state authorities.
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đ Key Facts
- Ken Paxton filed a civil lawsuit in Tarrant County district court against ActBlue under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
- Texas seeks to stop ActBlue from accepting donations via gift cards and prepaid debit cards and to obtain civil penalties and attorneys' fees.
- Paxton alleges ActBlue told Congress it had ended gift card donations and tightened vetting but investigators later made successful gift card contributions, including to the DNC and Texas candidates.
- The lawsuit grew out of a 2023 state investigation and a 2024 Paxton petition to the Federal Election Commission over suspected straw donations.
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