Michigan widow disputes $150,000 ActBlue donation record

Investigative journalist Charlie LeDuff reported that 88‑year‑old Elizabeth Waffle, a retired Michigan widow, disputes federal records that list nearly 15,000 ActBlue contributions totaling more than $150,000 over the past five years. Waffle, who lives in a trailer after her home burned down and has limited internet access, said she has only made a few small donations and could not possibly have contributed the amount shown in the filings. The records also show donations made from two addresses on the same day and include contributions to out‑of‑state candidates, among them 47 donations to Democratic Senate primary candidate Abdul El‑Sayed.

The story has reignited concerns about the accuracy of ActBlue’s donor data. Similar complaints from elderly donors were reported earlier in 2025, and ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace‑Jones recently invoked her Fifth Amendment rights before a House committee, prompting Republican representatives to threaten contempt for withholding documents. The controversy raises questions about the platform’s reporting practices and the integrity of Democratic grassroots fundraising.