A congressional investigation into allegations that the Democratic Party may be using the ActBlue online donation platform to engage in fraudulent fundraising practices has expanded, now focusing on potential foreign influence in U.S. elections. House and Senate investigators are demanding access to classified intelligence and money-laundering reports to probe whether foreign adversaries, including Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and China, have routed illicit money through ActBlue during the 2024 election cycle.

Just The News reports that in letters addressed to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) and Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) revealed that the investigation is centered on claims that foreign actors may be exploiting U.S. election laws. The lawmakers expressed concern over “potential illicit election funding by foreign actors” who they believe are “using ActBlue to launder illicit money into U.S. political campaigns.”

The investigation has raised suspicions that foreign actors might be making straw donations using the identities of American donors without their knowledge. Steil and Johnson have requested access to Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed by U.S. financial institutions, which are typically submitted when transactions exceed $10,000 or when suspicious behavior that might signal criminal activity, such as money laundering, is detected.

“We request that the Department make available to CHA and PSI staff all Suspicious Activity Reports (‘SARs’) related to ActBlue, specifically regarding fraud, money laundering, identity theft, and the use of prepaid credit, debit, and gift cards in this context,” the lawmakers wrote.

The request for access to SARs and classified briefings comes amid growing concerns that ActBlue may have allowed illegal foreign donations through the use of prepaid cards. The congressional letters also cited concerns about a lack of action by the Biden administration and intelligence agencies, pointing out that the FBI and other officials seemed unaware of the issue when questioned in a September briefing.

At the heart of the investigation is a practice known as “smurfing,” where large illegal donations are broken down into smaller contributions using stolen identities. This technique makes it difficult to detect illegal activity and creates the illusion of many small-dollar donors. The investigators believe this could be happening on a large scale, with evidence suggesting that donors in low-income areas have been credited with making far more donations than their financial situation would allow.

This practice has caught the attention of election watchdogs, as well as local and state officials. In fact, Steil’s committee previously conducted a computer analysis of hundreds of thousands of small donations through ActBlue, and the findings have been referred to attorneys general in 19 states for further investigation under consumer fraud statutes.

A new lawsuit filed in Wisconsin last week has further fueled concerns. Republican consultant Mark Block alleged in the suit that his identity and an old campaign email were used to make hundreds of unauthorized donations through ActBlue. His lawsuit claims that he is a victim of identity theft and describes the scheme as part of an ongoing racketeering operation.

The allegations surrounding ActBlue have expanded beyond just potential domestic fraud. In their letters to top officials, Steil and Johnson emphasized the risk of foreign interference in the election process. “During CHA’s investigation, evidence has emerged pointing to illegal donations being broken into many smaller donations made in the name of existing ActBlue donors without their knowledge,” they wrote. “This practice is known as ‘smurfing,’ where illicit actors use prepaid debit, credit, or gift cards in the names of legitimate donors to make straw donations that are virtually impossible to detect.”

Concerns have arisen that foreign actors from Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and China may be involved in this illegal scheme to interfere with U.S. elections. The lawmakers have requested immediate intelligence briefings on this issue, citing the national security threat posed by potential foreign influence in the 2024 election.

The investigation into ActBlue’s fundraising practices first began in 2023, when concerns arose over the platform’s security protocols and the possibility that foreign actors could exploit weak verification processes. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently revealed that ActBlue admitted to not requiring donors to use the CVV code on the back of credit cards—a basic security feature used to prevent fraud. ActBlue has since agreed to implement this measure in Texas, but the concerns about its nationwide fundraising practices persist.