The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has initiated a formal inquiry into donations made to the 2024 campaign of Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, via the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.
The investigation stems from a complaint filed on March 26 by the Coolidge-Reagan Foundation, a conservative watchdog group. The group raised concerns about potential irregularities in Crockett’s campaign donations, which were first highlighted by The Daily Signal.
A letter from the FEC dated April 2 confirmed that the agency is reviewing the allegations. “The respondents will be notified of this complaint within five business days,” wrote Wanda D. Brown, assistant general counsel at the FEC, in a notice sent to the group’s legal representative, attorney Dan Backer.
Backer confirmed to The Daily Signal that the FEC has opened an investigation and emphasized that the process is ongoing. “There is a process, but they are investigating,” he said.
Central to the complaint is a series of donations attributed to a Texas man named Randy Best. Records reportedly show that Best made 53 separate contributions, totaling $595, through ActBlue to Crockett’s campaign. However, a video circulated by Sholdon Daniels, a declared challenger to Crockett in 2026, features Best’s wife stating she had no knowledge of the donations, raising doubts about their authenticity.
According to the complaint, this could suggest that the contributions were made without the donor’s consent—an allegation that could implicate wider issues within ActBlue’s platform. Crockett’s campaign has reportedly received over $870,000 in total donations via ActBlue.
“Thousands of donations have flowed through ActBlue into Rep. Crockett’s campaign,” the complaint alleges. “It’s unclear how many of these transactions may have been made without the true donor’s awareness or permission.”
The use of ActBlue for fundraising has come under increasing scrutiny from Republican lawmakers and state attorneys general, who have raised concerns about possible misuse of donor identities. Past reports have surfaced in which elderly individuals claimed they were unaware of repeated contributions made under their names.
Rep. Crockett has 15 days to respond to the FEC’s inquiry, though extensions are often granted, sometimes up to 60 days, according to Backer.
Crockett is not alone in relying on ActBlue—many Democratic candidates use the platform for grassroots donations. Nevertheless, ongoing probes by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and several Republican-led states have focused on transparency and verification processes within ActBlue’s system.
In previous statements, ActBlue has rejected accusations of wrongdoing, describing the attacks as politically motivated and affirming that it complies with campaign finance laws.
While some may argue that campaigns can’t control unsolicited contributions, Backer warned that relying solely on ActBlue’s internal processes may not be a viable legal defense. “The law puts the burden of due diligence on the campaign treasurer,” he said. “Claiming total trust in ActBlue might have sufficed in the past—but that may no longer be enough.”
