Federal prosecutors are looking into whether leaders of the Black Lives Matter organization may have misused funds donated during the protests in 2020, according to two sources familiar with the situation. Following the death of George Floyd, donations to the organization reportedly exceeded $90 million, as first noted by the Associated Press.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California is in charge of the ongoing investigation based in Los Angeles. Law enforcement agencies have issued subpoenas and even conducted at least one search warrant in recent weeks, aimed at determining if the organization’s leaders or affiliates mishandled charitable contributions.
The precise scope of this investigation is still unclear, and no charges have been brought against anyone yet. The Justice Department has declined to comment while efforts to reach out to Black Lives Matter are ongoing.
Interestingly, reports suggest that this inquiry began during the Biden administration but has gained fresh scrutiny under the Trump administration. It’s also reportedly expanding its focus to other Black-led advocacy groups that gained visibility during the protests of 2020.
The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation has claimed, in a statement to the Associated Press, that it is “not the subject of any federal criminal investigation” and emphasizes its commitment to transparency and accountability.
