Matt DeBergalis, cofounder of ActBlue, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination multiple times during a closed-door deposition on August 20, 2026, as part of a congressional investigation into the Democratic fundraising platform. The deposition, which lasted less than half an hour, was conducted by the House Administration, House Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform committees. Lawmakers are investigating allegations that ActBlue's fraud-prevention practices allowed fraudulent or foreign donations to enter U.S. political campaigns.
ActBlue has denied any wrongdoing and claims it has not knowingly permitted illegal foreign contributions. However, Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns regarding the organization's donor verification processes. Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) questioned what ActBlue might be concealing. The investigation, initiated in 2023, has examined whether ActBlue adequately verified donors and misled Congress about its safeguards.
A report released in April indicated that ActBlue employees were aware of foreign and domestic exploitation of the platform but did not take the threat seriously. The committees have also subpoenaed current and former employees of ActBlue. Regina Wallace-Jones, the current CEO of ActBlue, also invoked the Fifth Amendment during a public congressional hearing in June. The investigation is occurring ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, during which ActBlue has processed significant fundraising for Democratic candidates, reportedly raising $586 million in the second quarter of 2026 and approximately $20 billion since its inception.