Three more political action committees have experienced incidents of fraud, becoming the latest victims in a series of recent thefts, embezzlements and bogus purchases afflicting federal political groups.
Citizens Against AIPAC Corruption, an organization dedicated to shaming politicians and candidates that have taken money linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee or other pro-Israel groups, reported an “external card fraud” worth $2,835.10. An unidentified person spent the money on a purchase with event ticket outlet StubHub, the committee told the Federal Election Commission.
The fraudulent transaction, dated July 8, was “Disputed with the bank,” Citizens Against AIPAC Corruption told federal regulators. Citizens Against AIPAC Corruption, like many other Democratic or left-leaning groups, banks with Amalgamated Bank.
In a September filing, the PAC reported that the money had been reimbursed following the bank dispute on Aug. 18. In a recent letter to the committee, the FEC requested “any further clarifying information” about the “apparent unauthorized disbursement of Committee funds.”
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The Democratic Party of Oregon reported a “Fraudulent Credit Card Purchase” of $495 that was spent on Amazon.com on Aug. 24. The funds were refunded two days later, per the filing.
The political action committee for the Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, an S&P 500 utility company that owns Arizona Public Service, reported a “Fraudulent Transaction” worth $3,500.
“The PAC identified an unauthorized bank transaction in August,” the PAC said in a September filing. “Any refund will be reported once the funds are credited back to the PAC bank account.”
The three PACs did not return requests for comment. The unauthorized and fraudulent transactions follow other thefts against PACs reported earlier this year.
In July, the PAC tied to the law firm Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP told federal regulators that some political contribution checks had been stolen from mailboxes in D.C., and the thieves altered the values of the paper checks. The law firm said it recouped the stolen funds, which amounted to $40,000.
That same month, The Washington Sun reported that the Democratic National Committee had been scammed out of nearly $29,000 in February 2025 after a staffer received an email from someone pretending to be the newly elected DNC Chair Ken Martin.
In August, the National Republican Congressional Committee said an unknown actor stole more than $16,300 that was intended to reach a vendor. The NRCC told The Sun that it was working with the authorities to recoup the funds.
Political committees for Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) and accounting giant KPMG have also been hit by thieves in recent months.
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