The US Justice Department has reportedly issued subpoenas and arrest warrants as part of a probe into a key BLM charity
The US Justice Department is investigating whether leaders of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement defrauded their donors, the Associated Press reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The BLM movement rose to prominence in 2020 amid nationwide protests and riots following the killing of Minneapolis resident George Floyd by police. Activists associated with the group have called for “racial justice” and pushed to “defund” police departments.
According to AP, investigators have issued subpoenas and at least one search warrant as part of a probe into the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and “other black-led organizations.”
The foundation told AP that it was “not a target of any federal criminal investigation” and remained “committed to full transparency, accountability, and the responsible stewardship of resources dedicated to building a better future for black communities.”
The foundation’s co-founder, Patrisse Cullors, resigned in 2021 after the New York Post reported she had purchased a $1.4 million luxury home near Malibu, in addition to three other “high-end” properties she already owned. Cullors claimed she was the victim of “right-wing attacks” aimed at discrediting her. A year later, New York Magazine revealed that the foundation had used donations to buy a $6 million property in California with “more than half a dozen bedrooms and bathrooms.” The foundation said at the time that the property would be used to house fellows from a program for black artists and influencers.
In October of 2024, Sir Maejor Page, head of the nonprofit Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for misusing funds to pay for a home, hotel stays, and clothing.
In September of 2025, BLM activist Monica Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty to defrauding donors of her Violence in Boston (VIB) charity and misusing funds from government relief programs.
