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Wisconsin may not play a role in any investigation into Act Blue and possible money laundering or identity theft charges.
Republican Congressman Bryan Steil on Monday said his Congressional investigation has raised dozens of questions about how Act Blue is raising money for Democratic candidates, and how it appears to be laundering that money through thousands of donations in other people’s names.
“The concern that I began this investigation with a year ago is there was a series of reports that people were seeing that donations were made in their name, but the individuals weren't giving,” Steil explained to New Talk 1130 WISN’s Jay Weber. “So we began the investigation. And we quickly discovered that Act Blue, this online donating portal for Democrats, didn't have the financial controls that they needed.”
More recently there have been reports that foreigners have been using Act Blue to make what would be illegal donations to Democratic candidates.
“We know there's motivation that's out there for foreign influence in US elections,” Steil added. “We have to do everything we can to make sure our system is secure, to prevent election interference. That's my biggest concern in this investigation going forward.”
Steil said that investigation will be led by state attorney general offices.
“One of the biggest challenges we have with the [Federal Elections Commission] is that they deadlock,” Steil explained. “This is where bringing in state's attorney's general that can actually take unilateral action in this regard is so absolutely essential.”
Texas’ attorney general filed subpoenas in October, accusing Act Blue of a straw donor scheme.
“At the end of the day, I think a large part is going to be the information that we have transferred to attorney generals around the country who are going to be able to move this investigation forward into a phase of bringing forward individuals that we find we're engaged in this action,” Steil added.
It is unlikely that Wisconsin’s attorney general will join that investigation.
A-G Josh Kaul is a Democrat, and has shied away from causes or investigations that Republican A-Gs across the country are involved-in.
Kaul hasn’t said anything about Act Blue, or a possible investigation into it.
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