Justice Department Launches Investigation Into Whether Black Lives Matter Leaders Defrauded Donors
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into whether leaders of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) defrauded donors out of tens of millions of dollars raised during and after the 2020 riots that followed the death of George Floyd.
According to the Associated Press, federal prosecutors have issued multiple subpoenas and at least one search warrant as part of the ongoing investigation. Sources familiar with the probe told the outlet that it focuses on BLMGNF and several other affiliated organizations that collected large sums during the height of the movement.
BLMGNF raised over $90 million in 2020 and more than $75 million in 2021, but donations have sharply declined in recent years as public support for the organization has dropped.
While it remains unclear whether the DOJ’s probe will result in criminal charges, the investigation has renewed scrutiny of BLM’s financial transparency and accountability. The organization has faced ongoing criticism over how its leadership handled the enormous influx of donations received during the 2020 unrest.
The AP also reported that some civil rights groups have expressed concern that the Trump administration’s Justice Department may be taking a broader look at progressive or left-leaning organizations that have been critical of the president, including groups linked to BLM, transgender activism, and anti-ICE protests.
The investigation follows a series of scandals involving BLM leaders accused of misusing funds. In 2023, Tyree Conyers-Page — the former head of Black Lives Matter Atlanta — was sentenced to 42 months in prison after being convicted of wire fraud and money laundering for using donated funds to finance a luxury lifestyle.
Patrisse Khan-Cullors, a self-described “trained Marxist” and one of BLM’s co-founders, also faced widespread criticism after purchasing multiple high-end properties following the 2020 riots. In 2021, she resigned as BLMGNF’s executive director, claiming that right-wing groups had launched a coordinated smear campaign against her.
Federal officials have not commented publicly on the ongoing investigation.
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