(Law Enforcement Today) Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign has experienced an extraordinary and rapid fundraising boost, sparking significant controversy and scrutiny. Within just five hours of her campaign announcement, small donations through ActBlue, a prominent fundraising platform associated with progressive causes, surged to $27.5 million.
This impressive figure almost doubled to $46.7 million a few hours later, setting a new record for ActBlue during the 2024 election cycle. By the end of the first 24 hours, Harris had reportedly raised over $90 million, a startling contrast to her relatively low support during the 2020 Democratic primary.
This unexpected fundraising success has raised several red flags. Critics are questioning whether the influx of donations reflects genuine grassroots support or if it indicates possible manipulation or irregularities. Kamala Harris, who was notably unpopular during the 2020 primary— receiving minimal support compared to her competitors— now appears to be attracting significant financial backing seemingly overnight.
The controversy surrounding Harris’ fundraising is compounded by concerns about ActBlue’s practices. During the “Summer of Rage” protests in 2020, ActBlue’s website included a disclaimer stating that if a campaign failed to cash a check within 60 days or refused a contribution, ActBlue could reallocate the funds.
Specifically, if a campaign did not cash a check or refused a contribution, ActBlue could use the funds for its own activities or donate them to charities. This provision led to suspicions about the potential for misuse or redirection of donations. Notably, this disclaimer was removed on August 1, coinciding with the peak of Harris’ fundraising efforts, fueling further concerns about the timing and transparency of the change.
ActBlue’s website under a section titled “The Fine Print”: “In the event that a campaign or committee (a) fails for 60 days to cash a check from ActBlue which includes your contribution (after ActBlue makes repeated attempts to work with the campaign to ensure all checks are cashed), or (b) affirmatively refuses a contribution earmarked through ActBlue, your contribution will be re-designated as a contribution to ActBlue. Contributions to social welfare organizations which are similarly not cashed or affirmatively refused will be kept by ActBlue and used generally to support its social welfare activities. Contributions to charitable organizations which are not cashed or affirmatively refused will go to ActBlue Charities.”
Further investigation into Harris’ fundraising has uncovered troubling patterns. For instance, Cindy Nowe, a resident of Maryland, allegedly contributed over 1,000 times to ActBlue in 2022, totaling $18,849.77. This would have required her to make donations at least three times a day, every day, for an entire year. Nowe has denied making these contributions beyond an initial donation.
