Washington, 31 October (H.S.): The United States Justice Department is actively investigating whether leaders within the Black Lives Matter movement defrauded donors of tens of millions of dollars contributed during the nationwide racial justice protests of 2020.

According to sources familiar with the matter, federal law enforcement officials have issued subpoenas and at least one search warrant in recent weeks as part of an investigation into the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc.

The probe centers on the financial management of the more than $90 million in donations the foundation received following the murder of George Floyd.The investigation, which reportedly began under the Biden administration, has drawn renewed attention under President Trump.

It invites fresh scrutiny of a movement that has faced persistent criticism regarding its financial transparency, particularly after foundation leaders confirmed the use of donations to purchase a $6 million property in the Los Angeles area.

In a statement to the Associated Press on Thursday, the foundation maintained that it is not a target of any federal criminal investigation and is committed to full transparency, accountability, and the responsible stewardship of resources.

The investigation is being managed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. This occurs at a time when civil rights advocates have expressed concerns about the potential for the Trump administration to target progressive groups. The top prosecutor in that office, Bill Essayli, a Trump appointee, has previously characterized BLM as a radical organization. While it remains uncertain if the probe will result in criminal charges, its existence marks a significant development for the movement.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar