House Democrats Probe Ken Paxton's WinRed Blind Spot

Several members of the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., are investigating Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R-TX) failure to pursue fraud allegations against a Republican-aligned fundraising platform.

After last week’s Texas primary runoff elections, some lawmakers were frustrated to see current Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) lose his seat to Paxton. Many revived fraud and abuse of power allegations against the attorney general, calling for Congressional intervention.

Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-CA), Joe Morelle (R-NY), and Robert Garcia (D-CA) are among them.

On Monday, the members announced the investigation in a letter to Paxton seeking records and communications related to complaints about WinRed, the fundraising platform for Republican candidates and committees. The lawmakers also requested records of any interactions between WinRed and Paxton’s office.

“For years, Texas residents – many of them seniors or people with disabilities – have reported to your office that they are being defrauded by the donation platform WinRed,” the members wrote.

The letter highlighted several examples of this fraud, pointing to one woman who claimed $15,000 was taken from her bank account after she made a handful of small donations. Another elder Texan woman reported $11,000 in unauthorized charges, according to the members.

The members also said that, although Paxton’s office has not investigated WinRed for fraud, it has done so on several occasions for ActBlue, a Democratic donation platform.

Since 2022, the Federal Trade Commission has received nearly seven times the number of complaints for WinRed’s fraud as it has for ActBlue. The letter calls for an internal analysis comparing the two donation platforms.

“It is clear that this willful blindness has come home to roost: dozens of your constituents are being defrauded, in real time,” the members wrote, adding that this move bolsters ongoing efforts by the administration and its allies to “run it out of business.”

But ActBlue has also received several alarming allegations.

In April, Paxton sued WinRed, alleging its “unlawful donation processes” misled consumers and allowed fraudulent and foreign contributions, which are barred under federal election law. A New York Times investigation confirmed that the platform did not always follow its screening procedures to root out overseas donations.

“Fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and I will work to ensure no illegal campaign donation flies under the radar,” Paxton said of the lawsuit.

Nonetheless, the members argue Paxton should hold WinRed to the same standard.

“You are failing Texas victims, and you seem to be abusing your law enforcement authority for partisan ends,” the members wrote.