Lawler questions Biden official on ActBlue’s support for anti-Israel group
Republican Lawmaker Questions Treasury Department on ActBlue’s Alleged Support for Anti-Israel Group
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) grilled Treasury Department official Brian Nelson on Wednesday, demanding answers as to why the agency has failed to investigate ActBlue, a top Democratic fundraising platform, for its alleged support of an anti-Israel group linked to terrorism.
“ActBlue Charities allowed the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel to fundraise on its platform for two years until repeated calls by the Examiner to address this,” Lawler stated during the House Financial Services Committee hearing. He pointed out that Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) had sent a letter to Nelson in September 2023, raising concerns about ActBlue’s potential involvement in funding international terrorism. However, the agency has yet to respond to Issa’s inquiry, prompting Lawler to seek answers.
Lawler pressed Nelson on whether the Treasury Department had conducted a review and if they intended to respond to Issa’s letter. Nelson assured Lawler that they would respond but admitted that he was not currently aware of any such review.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Issa plans to send another letter to the Treasury Department regarding the ActBlue issue. Lawmakers are increasingly concerned about terrorism financing, especially after the recent attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), which was associated with ActBlue from 2021 to 2023, has been revealed to have ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist group. PACBI is a project of Alliance for Global Justice, a charity in Arizona.
ActBlue’s policies explicitly state that they do not collaborate with organizations that oppose social equality, women’s rights, LGBTQIA2S+ rights, racial justice, diversity, freedom of speech, disability rights, and respect for scientific inquiry. Additionally, ActBlue prohibits overseas groups that are fiscally sponsored, like PACBI, from using its services.
In his letter, Issa asked Nelson and FBI Director Christopher Wray if they were aware of the foreign banks involved in handling funds raised by PACBI through ActBlue. He also inquired whether the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network had received any suspicious activity reports related to the ActBlue-PACBI partnership.
Click here to read more from The Washington Examiner.
Why did Rep. Lawler express dismay over ActBlue providing a platform for an anti-Israel group to raise funds?
Emocrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), have also used ActBlue to raise campaign funds.
The questioning comes as concerns grow over ActBlue’s alleged support for the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), an organization that advocates for the boycott of Israeli institutions, academics, and cultural events. Critics argue that the boycott movement unfairly singles out Israel and undermines efforts for peace and dialogue in the region.
During the hearing, Rep. Lawler expressed his dismay that ActBlue, a platform that facilitates campaign fundraising for Democratic candidates, provided a platform for the anti-Israel group to raise funds. He emphasized the need for the Treasury Department to take action and investigate this alleged support of PACBI.
ActBlue Charities is a non-profit organization that enables individuals and organizations to donate to Democratic candidates and causes. According to its website, ActBlue has raised over $7 billion for Democratic campaigns and organizations since its establishment in 2004. The platform is widely used by Democratic candidates and has garnered support from prominent party members.
Lawler’s questioning of the Treasury Department official highlighted the potential implications of ActBlue’s alleged support for an organization linked to terrorism. The congressman argued that by allowing PACBI to fundraise on its platform, ActBlue may have facilitated the support of a group with ties to terrorist activities.
The questioning by Lawler also sheds light on the issue of political fundraising and the responsibility of platforms like ActBlue to vet the organizations and causes they support. As a major player in Democratic campaign fundraising, ActBlue has a significant impact on the party’s success in elections. Questions about the platform’s involvement with an anti-Israel group raise concerns about the alignment of Democratic candidates and organizations with controversial causes.
Moreover, the concerns raised by Lawler expose potential loopholes in the oversight and regulation of political fundraising platforms. As the Treasury Department official, Brian Nelson, stated during the hearing, ActBlue is not classified as a political committee, which exempts it from certain regulations and reporting requirements. This raises questions about the adequacy of existing regulations and the need for greater scrutiny of platforms like ActBlue.
Lawler’s questioning serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in political fundraising, irrespective of party affiliation. The allegations against ActBlue underscore the need for thorough investigations into any potential ties between political fundraising platforms and organizations with controversial agendas or links to terrorism.
The Treasury Department has yet to respond to Lawler’s questioning, leaving the status of any potential investigation uncertain. However, the fact that these concerns have been raised and brought to public attention highlights the need for further scrutiny of political fundraising practices and the importance of holding platforms accountable for the causes they support.
In conclusion, Rep. Mike Lawler’s questioning of the Treasury Department on ActBlue’s alleged support for an anti-Israel group reveals the potential implications of political fundraising platforms aligning with controversial causes. The allegations against ActBlue raise concerns about transparency and accountability in political fundraising, as well as the need for tighter regulation and oversight of such platforms. These questions highlight the importance of thorough investigations and the necessity of holding platforms accountable for their support of organizations with potentially harmful agendas.
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