House Republicans are investigating ActBlue, the Democratic Party's dominant online fundraising platform, over allegations that weak donor-verification standards may have allowed foreign or fraudulent contributions to enter U.S. politics. An interim report issued by the Judiciary, Administration, and Oversight committees stated that senior ActBlue employees refused to answer questions during depositions, collectively invoking their Fifth Amendment rights 146 times.
The probe centers on claims that ActBlue softened its anti-fraud policies during the 2024 election cycle. According to documents cited by the committees, the platform allegedly made its donation standards "more lenient" on at least two occasions that year and maintained lax requirements for card verification values (CVVs) on contributions made with credit, prepaid debit, and gift cards. Republicans, including Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), have argued that these gaps create vulnerabilities for prohibited donors—including foreign nationals—to exploit the system.
During closed-door depositions, ActBlue officials repeatedly declined to answer questions. When pressed on matters including potential foreign-source donations and whether internal fraud standards were weakened, employees responded, "On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline[d] to answer the question pursuant to my Fifth Amendment rights under the Constitution." Lawmakers also questioned witnesses about reports that ActBlue's in-house legal team had departed, though those questions too were met with Fifth Amendment invocations.
Matt DeBergalis, ActBlue co-founder and board chairman, was reportedly among those who refused to answer questions. The committees have accused ActBlue of withholding records responsive to congressional subpoenas, and they have requested testimony from additional executives, including current CEO Regina Wallace-Jones.
ActBlue has not publicly commented on the specific deposition exchanges, but the investigation continues. Republicans say they are seeking to determine whether the platform's practices enabled illicit foreign influence in U.S. elections.
Sources: House Judiciary Committee Republicans; Washington Examiner (2025); InfluenceWatch.
