FEC Investigates Rep. Jasmine Crockett Over Campaign Donations

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has initiated an investigation into donations made to Rep. Jasmine Crockett's 2024 campaign via ActBlue, a significant fundraising platform for Democrats. This inquiry was prompted by a complaint lodged by the conservative group, Coolidge-Reagan Foundation, on March 26, with the FEC confirming it would look into the matter shortly after.

As part of the investigation, the FEC has indicated that they will alert the respondents, including Crockett, about the complaint within five business days. This communication, carried by Wanda D. Brown, an FEC assistant general counsel, indicated that they would keep the Coolidge-Reagan Foundation apprised of developments regarding the investigation.

At the core of the complaint is a donor identified as Randy Best, a 73-year-old Texas resident, who reportedly made 53 donations totaling $595 to Crockett's campaign through the ActBlue platform. However, Best's wife, in a video shared by a rival of Crockett for the upcoming election, claimed ignorance regarding these donations, raising concerns about the authenticity of not just Best’s contributions but potentially others as well.

Crockett's campaign reportedly received approximately $870,000 via ActBlue, according to the complaints filed. In fact, the FEC document emphasizes that while a small fraction of this amount has come under scrutiny, the exact number of possibly fraudulent donations remains unclear.

This scrutiny surrounding ActBlue is not isolated to Crockett; it has caught the attention of various congressional Republicans and GOP-affiliated state attorneys general, all questioning the fundraising practices of the platform. The Daily Signal has highlighted instances where elderly individuals were unaware of donations allegedly attributed to them through ActBlue.

Following the notification of the investigation, Crockett has a period of 15 days to respond to the allegations, with potential extensions typically being granted. It is significant to note that while ActBlue maintains compliance with the law, the chairman of the complaint has suggested that if contributions are found to be illegitimate, it raises questions about the campaign's due diligence responsibilities regarding their donors.

While some Democrats may argue they did not actively solicit the questioned donations but rather received them through a platform, the seriousness of the investigation indicates that such claims may not absolve them of accountability given the ongoing scrutiny into ActBlue.