Three House committees subpoena ActBlue, citing allegations of fraudulent and foreign donations to Democratic campaigns.

Congressional Investigation Targets ActBlue Fundraising Platform

Three powerful House committees have issued a joint subpoena to ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s leading online fundraising platform, in response to allegations that the organization accepted “fraudulent or illegal” donations, including contributions from foreign sources. The action signals a significant intensification of the congressional investigation into campaign finance practices ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

The Committee on House Administration, the House Oversight Committee, and the House Judiciary Committee announced the subpoena on Tuesday, with chairs Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), James Comer (R-Ky.), and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) jointly leading the probe. In a letter to ActBlue, lawmakers stated that the committees have been investigating since 2023 and are seeking documents and communications related to internal misconduct, whistleblower retaliation, and donation verification processes.

“In light of allegations that online fundraising platforms… have accepted fraudulent donations from domestic and foreign sources, the Committees are conducting oversight to inform potential legislative reforms,” the letter to ActBlue read. The committees noted that they had initially received some voluntary cooperation from ActBlue, but that the platform “abruptly changed course” and suspended its cooperation, forcing the committees to use compulsory legal measures to obtain necessary information.

ActBlue Faces Deadline as Lawmakers Intensify Probe

ActBlue’s practices came under scrutiny in 2023 when lawmakers questioned the security of its online donations, citing the platform’s failure at the time to require a CVV number for credit card contributions. Although ActBlue now requires this verification, the investigation has expanded to include concerns over whether the organization accepted contributions from foreign actors—a violation of federal campaign finance laws.

The latest subpoena demands that ActBlue turn over documents by August 12. House investigators accuse the platform of failing to provide a legitimate legal basis for refusing further cooperation and of making “baseless and untrue allegations” about the committees’ motives. The letter also refuted ActBlue’s claim that congressional oversight was improperly coordinated with the Department of Justice, stressing instead the committees’ “legislative interest in protecting the integrity of federal elections and upholding fundamental civil liberties.”

Last month, the committees subpoenaed current and former ActBlue employees for transcribed interviews. The recent escalation follows an earlier subpoena issued to ActBlue in October 2024, reflecting lawmakers’ frustration over delays and what they describe as inadequate responses from the platform.

In a previous public statement, an ActBlue spokesperson rejected the allegations, saying, “We rigorously protect donors' security and maintain strict anti-fraud compliance practices. We have zero tolerance for fraud on our platform.”

The latest development underscores the growing scrutiny facing political fundraising platforms in the digital era, as Congress seeks to fortify election security and guard against foreign interference. The outcome of this investigation could have broad implications for how political contributions are collected and monitored across all parties.

ActBlue has until August 12 to provide the requested documents. As the deadline approaches, lawmakers and observers alike will be watching closely to see whether the fundraising giant complies and how the investigation will affect the broader landscape of campaign finance in the United States.