Core Democratic groups are preparing to be targeted by the Trump
administration
[April 15, 2025]
By STEVE PEOPLES
NEW YORK (AP) — As President Donald Trump pushes the historical
boundaries of executive power, some of the Democratic Party's core
political institutions are preparing for the possibility that the
federal government may soon launch criminal investigations against them.
The Democrats' dominant national fundraising platform, ActBlue, and the
party's largest protest group, Indivisible, are working with their
attorneys for just such a scenario, according to officials within both
organizations. Trump's top political allies have suggested both groups
should face prosecution.
Other Democratic allies are planning for Trump-backed legal crackdowns
as well. Wary of antagonizing the president, most prefer to stay
anonymous for now.
“Every one of our clients is concerned about being arbitrarily targeted
by the Trump administration. We are going to great lengths to help
clients prepare for or defend themselves," said Ezra Reese, political
law chair at Elias Law Group, which represents Democratic groups and
candidates and is chaired by Marc Elias, the lawyer who has himself been
a Trump target.
An FBI spokesperson declined to comment when asked about potential
investigations into ActBlue and Indivisible. But White House press
secretary Karoline Leavitt did not downplay the threat of a potential
criminal probe when asked specifically whether Trump wants the FBI, the
Treasury Department or any other federal agency to investigate
Democratic groups.
“Anyone who has (not) broken the law should not be worried," Leavitt
told The Associated Press. "If you have broken the law and engaged in
the weaponization of justice, then you should be worried. It’s that
simple.”
Indeed, far from distancing themselves from talk of retribution, many
key Republicans are embracing it.
Trump's allies argue they are justified in seeking vengeance due to the
four criminal prosecutions against Trump, one of which led to multiple
felony convictions in New York. There's no evidence former President Joe
Biden influenced the Trump prosecutions in any way.
Matt Schlapp, president of the American Conservative Union, said
Democrats needed to be taught not to touch a hot stove.
“Someone needs to get burned for all this activity or they’re just gonna
do it again,” he said. “And that’s not hypocrisy; that’s justice.”
Trump has made no secret of his plans to use the power of the federal
government to target domestic political adversaries.
During a norm-breaking speech at the Department of Justice last month,
Trump cast himself as the country’s “chief law enforcement officer,” a
title ordinarily reserved for the attorney general.
On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order instructing the Justice
Department to investigate Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland
Security official who anonymously penned a book highly critical of his
first presidency. Trump said that Taylor was likely guilty of treason, a
crime that can carry the death penalty.
Musk calls Indivisible ‘criminals’
Indivisible has been perhaps the most important group in the Democratic
resistance since Trump returned to the White House. The group’s
leadership in Washington holds regular calls with state-based activists
and recently released a detailed protest guide, which offers specific
guidance to hundreds of local chapters across the country.
This year alone, Indivisible groups have hosted more than 1,000 protests
covering every state in the nation. The group was a key organizer in the
recent Hands Off! protests that attracted hundreds of thousands of
people across the country.
Trump top adviser and billionaire Elon Musk has publicly condemned
Indivisible as “criminals.”
The statement was an apparent reference to violent attacks against Tesla
dealerships and vehicles, which have spiked in recent weeks.
Indivisible’s leadership released a guide earlier in the year
encouraging protests outside Tesla dealerships, although the guide
instructs protesters to remain peaceful and stay off private property.
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Community organizer Emerson Wolfe leads a march hosted by
Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids down Ottawa Avenue during a Hands
Off! rally, April 5, 2025, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Arthur H.
Trickett-Wile/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
No charges are known to have been filed against Indivisible or its
leaders. But Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin says it’s critical
that Democratic institutions work together to speak out against the
threats posed by the Trump administration. His organization has been
discussing contingency plans with attorneys and other activists in
the event that he or other Indivisible leaders face criminal
charges.
“They may try to come at us directly, or it’s as likely that their
non-state actors are inspired by their lies and propaganda, and try
to come at us individually,” Levin said. “And that is a risk in a
moment where you’re facing anti-democratic threats like we are.”
“Our choice is, we can be quiet and hope that they won’t target us,
or we can try to work as a mass opposition,” he continued. “If
you’re not willing to do that, what are you doing here?”
Democrats' fundraising at risk
Musk, backed by several Republican members of Congress, has also
called on the FBI to investigate ActBlue, alleging that the
Democratic Party's main fundraising platform has skirted campaign
finance laws and allowed foreign nationals to make illegal
contributions to Democratic candidates.
“I think the FBI’s going to do something on ActBlue soon,” Charlie
Kirk, a key Trump ally who founded the conservative group Turning
Point USA, said at a political event last month in Wisconsin.
ActBlue officials this week told the AP that they would continue to
cooperate with a congressional investigation led by House
Republicans into allegations of fraud within the organization.
ActBlue is preparing a second batch of documents to comply with a
new request by House Republicans. Additionally, two ActBlue staffers
are expected to testify before a House panel behind closed doors
later this month.
Multiple House Republicans in recent weeks have encouraged federal
law enforcement agencies to pursue requested criminal investigations
into ActBlue.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has asked the Treasury Department to
investigate allegations that the nonprofit processed payments to
“terror-linked organizations.” Separately, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.,
sent a letter to the FBI last month claiming that ActBlue is being
used to “to skirt the integrity of federal campaign finance laws” by
allowing foreign nationals to contribute to campaigns, among other
allegations of criminal wrongdoing.
“It must be emphasized that these allegations, were they to prove
true, would indicate a serious threat to the integrity of our
elections, besides the victimization of American citizens,” Biggs
wrote.
ActBlue said it is preparing for the possibility of “many different
attacks on various fronts,” including investigations by the FBI or
the Treasury Department.
Meanwhile, Democratic candidates are relying on ActBlue to fund
their campaigns as never before.
Donors have given more than $400 million to Democratic candidates
through ActBlue over the first three months of the year, the
organization told the AP. The fundraising haul represents the most
money raised in any first quarter in ActBlue's two-decade history.
While Republicans accuse the group of being funded by wealthy
donors, ActBlue acts as a passthrough between donors and candidates
that's funded by a 3.95% processing fee on each donation.
“These unfounded attacks haven’t shaken us — they’ve sharpened our
resolve to fuel Democratic wins," ActBlue spokesperson Megan Hughes
said. "As our first-quarter fundraising demonstrates, Democratic
grassroots donors are engaged, undeterred and ready to meet this
moment.”
Leavitt is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit
from the AP on First- and Fifth Amendment grounds. The AP says the
three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they
oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive
order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
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