Democrat officials redirect California wildfire relief funds to personal PACs

01/16/2025 / By Belle Carter

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Elizabeth Warren are redirecting wildfire relief funds to their political entities via ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform, rather than to intended relief organizations.
Newsom denies misinformation about his handling of the wildfires and launched a website, CalFireFacts, which redirects donations to his super PAC, the Campaign for Democracy.
ActBlue is under scrutiny for potentially illegal contributions, including “straw donations” and foreign entity donations, leading to a federal criminal investigation and an ongoing probe by the House Administration Committee.
The controversy is further complicated by Newsom’s veto of a bill that would have allowed CalFire to retain seasonal firefighters, exacerbating staffing shortages.
The situation highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the use of disaster relief funds and the urgent need to address underlying issues contributing to California’s wildfire crisis.

In a move that has raised eyebrows and accusations of impropriety, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are redirecting funds intended for wildfire relief to their respective political entities. Both politicians have launched fundraising appeals on the social media platform X, but the money raised is not going where it was advertised.

Newsom and Warren have been using X to solicit donations for wildfire relief in Los Angeles. However, instead of directing funds to the California Fire Foundation or other relevant organizations, their appeals are linked to ActBlue, a well-known Democratic fundraising platform. Newsom’s donation page, for example, leads to his super PAC, the Campaign for Democracy, while Warren’s donations go to her own Senate campaign fund.

Newsom denies accusations

In response to criticism, Newsom took to X to deny the accusations.

“A lot of misinformation out there,” he posted. “Just launched a new site to ensure the public has access to fact-based data around the Southern CA wildfires.”

The governor’s website, CalFireFacts, includes a hyperlink for donations to the Cal Fire Foundation. However, these donations are redirected to Newsom’s super PAC, the Campaign for Democracy, through ActBlue.

ActBlue, the platform through which these donations are processed, has come under scrutiny for its practices. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton referred ActBlue to the federal Justice Department for a criminal investigation after a 10-month probe into potentially illegal contributions. Paxton noted that ActBlue required credit card CCV security codes as a result of the investigation, but claimed the company did not do enough to stop illegal contributions, including “straw donations apparently… being made on a large scale using false identities, through untraceable payment methods.”

Further complicating the issue, the House Administration Committee has opened a probe into ActBlue, finding evidence of donations from foreign entities, including China, Russia, Iran and Venezuela. Wisconsin GOP strategist Mark Block also alleged in a lawsuit that his identity was stolen to make donations to left-wing causes and the Harris Victory Fund, totaling almost $1,000 without his knowledge.

Criticism of Newsom’s veto decision

Adding to the controversy, Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez has criticized Newsom for vetoing a bill that would have allowed CalFire to retain seasonal firefighters, leading to the layoff of thousands of seasonal firefighters and exacerbating staffing shortages. (Related: Newsom’s wildfire response focuses on online “misinformation” while Californians suffer.)

The controversy surrounding the redirection of wildfire relief funds highlights the complex interplay between politics, disaster relief and transparency. As the investigation into ActBlue’s practices continues, questions remain about the true beneficiaries of these fundraising appeals and the broader implications for campaign finance and disaster response in California.

The situation underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in how political figures and parties use disaster relief funds, as well as the urgent need to address the underlying issues that contribute to California’s ongoing wildfire crisis. As the investigation unfolds, it is clear that the public, officials and parties involved must address these issues to ensure the future.

The investigation into ActBlue’s practices and the controversy surrounding the redirection of wildfire relief funds, continues to raise eyebrows and questions about the future.

Visit NewsomWatch.com for more stories about the California governor.

Watch the video below that talks about Newsom’s constituents being “furious” over how he handled the wildfires.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.