The Justice Department is looking into claims that leaders within the Black Lives Matter movement may have misled donors who contributed millions during the 2020 protests for racial justice, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Recently, federal law enforcement has issued subpoenas and at least one search warrant as they investigate the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation alongside other Black-led organizations that have played a significant role in addressing systemic racism. This information was shared by a source who spoke anonymously, as they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing criminal inquiry.
What’s still unclear is whether this investigation will result in any criminal charges. However, the very fact that it’s happening adds more scrutiny to a movement that has already been criticized for how it manages the donations it has received. Additionally, civil rights groups are worried that the Trump administration may be seeking to target various progressive and left-wing organizations, which includes BLM, transgender rights advocates, and anti-ICE protesters.
A representative from the Justice Department chose not to comment on the issue.
According to one source, the inquiry began during Biden’s time in office but has garnered more attention under Trump. Another official confirmed that the allegations were indeed investigated by the Biden administration.
Following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, which ignited protests nationwide and globally, the foundation claimed to have garnered over $90 million in donations. Floyd’s death, caused by a Minneapolis police officer, became a pivotal moment for social justice movements.
Critics, including nonprofit foundations, have accused BLM’s organizers of being opaque about how these funds were utilized. This criticism intensified when BLM Foundation leaders publicly acknowledged in 2022 that they used part of the donations to buy a $6 million property in the Los Angeles area, which features a six-bedroom home.
Despite previous denials of any wrongdoing and the release of tax documents, prior investigations into their financial activities concluded without finding evidence of fraud.
Foundation leaders have been issued subpoenas and, in a statement to the Associated Press, asserted that they are “not the subject of a federal criminal investigation.”
In their statement, they emphasized their commitment to “full transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of the resources dedicated to building a better future for Black communities.”
Originating in 2013 following George Zimmerman’s acquittal after the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, the BLM movement surged significantly after the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. The phrase “Black Lives Matter” became widely recognized among progressives, but some conservatives began to ridicule it.
Initially, the founders intended for BLM to be a decentralized organization governed by consensus among its chapters. However, as its influence expanded, so did the number of affiliated organizations. In 2020, following the protests spurred by Floyd’s death, significant contributions mostly went to the BLM Foundation, though other groups also received help.
Recently, BLM Foundation leaders disclosed their financial status and organizational framework for 2022, detailing how funds were spent. As per their latest Form 990 filing, they reported having assets of $28 million by the end of June 2024.
The ongoing investigation is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Recently, Bill Ezeiri, the state’s top prosecutor, was disqualified from several cases because a federal judge ruled that temporary Trump appointees had overstayed their legal bounds. It remains uncertain whether this disqualification will influence the BLM investigation. He continues as the office’s lead prosecutor, now with the title of assistant U.S. attorney.
Ezeiri, who previously served as a Republican lawmaker in California, has been a vocal opponent of progressive causes and has criticized the state’s pandemic-related restrictions. He has notably prosecuted anti-Trump protesters in Southern California and once described BLM as an “extremist organization” while defending a couple accused of hate crimes for vandalizing a BLM mural.
During the wave of public support for BLM, various state officials announced independent investigations into the foundation’s financial practices, believing they had an obligation to safeguard donors. Yet, most of these inquiries concluded without any formal action being taken.
In 2022, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed a suit against the BLM Foundation for not cooperating with a financial investigation. Following a response from the foundation providing the necessary documentation, the case was dismissed.
