ActBlue Investigation and Plea Amid Allegations

The co-founder of ActBlue, Matt DeBergalis, invoked the Fifth Amendment during a deposition held before three significant House committees. These committees—House Administration, House Oversight, and House Judiciary—are investigating ActBlue over concerns that weak fraud prevention measures could lead to foreign donations infiltrating U.S. political campaigns.

The deposition, intended to occur on Thursday morning, concluded in less than 30 minutes. Observations from Fox News revealed DeBergalis entering and leaving the committee room within approximately 25 minutes.

Employees at ActBlue, Somerville, Mass., Nov. 13, 2018. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital reached out to ActBlue for comments, as well as to the majority and minority members of each of the three committees involved in the inquiry.

ActBlue is highly influential within Democratic campaigns, used by political figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Invoking the Fifth Amendment does not imply any wrongdoing. ActBlue has consistently denied any legal infractions concerning Republican investigations.

The House Administration Committee, overseeing U.S. election laws, began its probe into ActBlue in 2023. Chairman Bryan Steil accused ActBlue of potentially receiving foreign or fraudulent donations due to the absence of a credit card CVV requirement for contributions. Since then, ActBlue has implemented a CVV mandate for donations.

Chairman Jim Jordan and Chairman James Comer at the Capitol, Dec. 13, 2023. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

A report issued by the committees in April 2025 indicated that ActBlue executives acknowledge both foreign and domestic fraudulent actors exploiting their platform but do not regard the threat earnestly.

The platform’s current CEO also invoked the Fifth Amendment during a public congressional hearing earlier this year.

Steil expressed uncertainty regarding whether ActBlue had enhanced its fraud prevention standards in an interview with Fox News prior to the deposition on Wednesday.

“It’s unclear how serious ActBlue is now taking fraud. We know that they weakened their fraud standards previously. Did they make the changes that are needed to root out foreign funds from coming into U.S. Elections?” Steil inquired.

He emphasized his frustration and that of many others regarding the silence of ActBlue executives amid Republican questioning.

“What is so frustrating for me, and I think countless others—they have a right to not answer our questions, but I think the American people also have a rights to know exactly what’s taking place on this platform that has raised roughly $20 billion for Democratic candidates and liberal causes since its creation,” Steil stated.

Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, covering the House of Representatives.

Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to [email protected].