Warren targets "dark money groups" tied to crypto, AI, and AIPAC, citing over $290 million in 2026 midterm spending led by Ripple and Coinbase.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) took aim at political action committee spending on Monday, calling out the cryptocurrency lobby for pouring millions into congressional races.
"Dark money groups are spending millions to hand-pick Congress members," Warren said on X. She singled out groups tied to AI, cryptocurrency and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the bipartisan lobbying group that advocates for pro-Israel policies.
"We must elect fighters who reject corporate PAC money and will fight to unrig this broken system," the senior lawmaker said.
Cryptocurrency accounted for over one-third of total corporate election spending, led by Ripple (CRYPTO: XRP) and Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ: COIN). A report published at the end of June found that crypto, AI, Big Tech and online betting corporations collectively spent over $290 million in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.
Federal filings show Fairshake, a bipartisan super PAC, had already blown past that number–over $74 million spent by May 31. The same group ended up spending over $40 million in the 2024 election cycle.
Warren's criticism mirrors that of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is equally outspoken against big money in politics. He is unequivocal in his belief that the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling must be overturned. The decision lifted numerous campaign finance laws, enabling corporations, super PACs and outside organizations to spend an unlimited amount of money on elections.
AIPAC didn't immediately return Benzinga's request for comment.
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