ActBlue Co-founder Invokes the Fifth During Congressional Deposition

Matt DeBergalis, co-founder of ActBlue, opted to plead the Fifth Amendment when he appeared before three House committees. This was disclosed by sources familiar with the situation to Fox News Digital.

The Committee on House Administration, House Oversight Committee, and House Judiciary Committee are jointly investigating ActBlue. Their focus is on accusations that the platform’s weak fraud prevention practices may have permitted foreign donations in U.S. campaigns.

DeBergalis’ deposition took place Thursday morning, lasting less than thirty minutes. His presence at the committee room lasted approximately 25 minutes.

Far-left politicians remain linked to ActBlue as an elderly individual refutes making nearly $150,000 in donations.

Fox News reached out to ActBlue for comments. They also contacted the majority and minority of each of the three committees for responses.

ActBlue plays a significant role in Democratic campaigns. Notable figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed utilize it.

Pleading the Fifth Amendment does not equate to guilt. ActBlue consistently denies any legal breaches during the Republican investigation.

The Committee on House Administration began looking into ActBlue in 2023. Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis., accused the platform of potentially accepting improper donations due to not requiring a credit card CVV number for contributions.

Subsequently, ActBlue introduced a CVV requirement for donations. The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., provided updates to the press in December 2023.

An April 2025 report from the committees stated that ActBlue staff are aware of both foreign and domestic fraudulent actors exploiting the platform. Yet, they allegedly don’t prioritize this threat.

The platform’s CEO also invoked the Fifth during an earlier public congressional hearing.

Steil discussed his concerns before the deposition, questioning if ActBlue has improved its standards.

It’s uncertain how seriously ActBlue now regards fraud. Previously, their fraud standards were weakened. Have the necessary changes been made to prevent foreign funds from infiltrating U.S. elections? Steil remarked.

He also noted the silence of other ActBlue executives, despite Republican inquiries.

It’s incredibly frustrating for me and likely many others. They have the right to refrain from answering our questions. Still, the American public deserves to know the details about a platform that has raised about $20 billion for Democratic candidates and liberal initiatives since its start, Steil commented.

Elizabeth Elkind reports on political matters for Fox News Digital, focusing on the House of Representatives. Her past work appears in Daily Mail and CBS News. Follow her on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send news tips to [email protected].