ActBlue Officials Subpoenaed Over Allegations of Fraud
WASHINGTON – Officials from ActBlue have been called to testify before House Republicans regarding suspected widespread fraud on the Democratic fundraising platform, as outlined in a subpoena letter acquired by the Post. This inquiry is part of a broader investigation led by President Trump’s Justice Department.
A subpoena was issued on Wednesday to an unnamed senior workflow specialist at ActBlue, along with Alyssa Twomey, a former vice president of customer service. This request came from the GOP chair of the House Oversight, Judicial, and Control Committee.
Interestingly, some ActBlue officials were, or at least appeared to be, open to a voluntary interview with the committee before Trump’s approval for Attorney General Pam Bondy to conduct an investigation. The focus is reportedly on Trump’s alleged “straw” or “dummy” contributions made through online fundraising platforms.
ActBlue’s attorney, Danny Onorato, swiftly responded by asking to withdraw the request for a transcribed interview until the Department of Justice finishes its investigation or clarifies its stance with ActBlue.
The DOJ probe, initially mentioned in the subpoena, was set in motion by an executive order signed by Trump on April 24, requiring a report on the alleged fraud within 180 days.
Judicial Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), and Trustee Chair Brian Steel (R-Wis.) indicated that many congressional investigations often run parallel to administrative probes on similar issues.
ActBlue’s lawyers suggested that the committee was prematurely preventing testimony that might be essential for legislative oversight. They also accused the committee of being “fundamentally indifferent” to preventing fraud during the recent election cycle.
There’s a clear congressional interest in ensuring that no illicit contributions, particularly from foreign entities, are made through online fundraising platforms.
According to internal records reviewed earlier, ActBlue had implemented a “more generous” standard during the 2024 campaign cycle. This raised concerns, as records indicated hundreds of potentially suspicious contributions, some originating from “foreign IP” addresses.
The fundraising platform facilitated donations without requiring card verification details until January 2024, which is around the midpoint of the election cycle. Internal guidance encouraged ActBlue staff to “find a reason to accept contributions.”
A report from the House Oversight and Management Committee stated that ActBlue had processed 1,900 suspicious transactions between September 2022 and November 2024.
According to the subpoena, at least 237 prepaid cards were flagged as originating from foreign IP addresses during September and October 2024.
A comprehensive 478-page report indicated that ActBlue showed numerous examples of cases linked to both domestic and foreign campaigns, and it did not implement serious measures to combat fraud on its platform.
In a letter dated June 9, the fundraising platform’s legal team argued that the GOP committee’s investigation had shifted away from being merely a fact-gathering operation for legislative needs.
ActBlue responded to Trump’s directive in late April, claiming that the efforts targeting it were part of a broader attack on American democracy.
Since its inception in 2004, ActBlue has funneled $16 billion into Democratic campaigns and initiatives.
Currently, the senior workflow specialist is set to testify in court on July 14, while Twomey is scheduled for July 23. Requests for comments from ActBlue representatives and Onorato have gone unanswered.
