Trump takes executive action targeting ActBlue

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President Donald Trump signed an executive memorandum Thursday aimed at investigating ActBlue, the leading Democratic fundraising platform.

The memorandum directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to “investigate allegations regarding the unlawful use of online fundraising platforms to make 'straw' or 'dummy' contributions or foreign contributions to political candidates and committees, and to take appropriate action to enforce the law."

It specifically names ActBlue as an online fundraising platform being used "to improperly influence American elections."

A White House document accompanying the memo also suggested that ActBlue accepts donations in which donors evade federal limitations by breaking their contributions down into smaller ones and attributing them to numerous people.

A spokesperson for ActBlue called Trump's move a "brazen attack on democracy in America."

"Today’s escalation by the White House is blatantly unlawful and needs to be seen for what it is: Donald Trump’s latest front in his campaign to stamp out all political, electoral and ideological opposition. This Administration continues to weaponize the instruments of federal power in an unprecedented assault on our democracy," the statement read, calling the administration's claims against it "baseless."

The spokesperson added that ActBlue plans to challenge the directive in court.

Several Democratic groups, including the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Governors Association, said in a joint statement that Trump's memo is "designed to undermine democratic participation."

"He knows Americans are already fed up with his chaotic agenda that is driving the economy off a cliff, so he’s trying to block lawful grassroots donations from supporters giving just $5 or $10 to candidates who oppose him while further empowering the corrupt billionaires who already control his administration," the statement read.