During the festive season, charitable initiatives aimed at assisting those in need are a familiar sight.
However, a recent fundraising effort, purportedly to support families in need, has been unmasked as a potential ploy to bolster the finances of someone who is far from needy.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) recently reached out to her supporters via email, soliciting donations for a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway in New York City. The email stated, Thanksgiving is two weeks away. Will you chip in $5 or anything you can today to help us bring the joy of the holiday season into homes around NYC this year?
Yet, the link provided directs donors to ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform, funneling contributions directly to her campaign. The page clearly discloses that it is paid for by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress, with donations not qualifying as charitable deductions.
As reported by the New York Post, this approach contrasts sharply with her 2021 initiative, where she raised $33,589.64 for three local charities by directing donations straight to community organizations. Former City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli criticized the move, stating, A campaign is not supposed to be a pass-through for charitable work.
He questioned the integrity of the operation, asking, What if she raised enough money for a million turkeys? Would she buy a million turkeys, or would she keep $990,000 for her campaign and then throw the rest of the turkeys out the back of a truck and take a photo-op? Borelli emphasized, This is a clear case of why a campaign is not a charitable organization.
According to Gateway Pundit, scrutiny over ActBlue's practices has been mounting. In March, the House Judiciary, the Committee on House Administration, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform requested voluntary compliance from two ActBlue employees for transcribed interviews.
Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, House Admin Chairman Bryan Steil, and House Oversight Chairman James Comer have issued subpoenas to former Vice President of Customer Service Alyssa Twomey and an ActBlue Senior Workflow Specialist. These subpoenas are part of an investigation into allegations that online fundraising platforms, including ActBlue, have accepted fraudulent donations from both domestic and foreign sources.
A press release revealed that while serving as ActBlues Vice President of Customer Service, Alyssa Twomey oversaw the fraud-prevention team. The committees have uncovered substantial evidence suggesting that ActBlue maintained a fundamentally unserious approach to fraud prevention during her tenure. The release further alleges that ActBlue weakened its fraud-prevention standards twice in 2024 despite knowledge of significant attempted fraud on the platform, including from foreign actors.
In a continued effort to address these concerns, Representatives Bryan Steil, Jim Jordan, and James Comer issued additional subpoenas in September to a current ActBlue attorney and two former attorneys associated with the Democratic fundraising giant. This ongoing investigation underscores the need for transparency and accountability in political fundraising, particularly when charitable intentions are involved.
The situation raises critical questions about the intersection of political campaigns and charitable endeavors, highlighting the necessity for clear boundaries and ethical practices.
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