WorthyNews:House Republicans Subpoena ActBlue Officials as DOJ Probe into Alleged Fraud Expands

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by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – House Republicans have subpoenaed two current and former ActBlue officials as part of an escalating investigation into what lawmakers describe as potentially “widespread” fraud on the Democratic fundraising platform. The move comes amid a parallel probe ordered by President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice into alleged illegal contributions funneled through the site.

The subpoenas, obtained by The New York Post, were issued last Wednesday to a current senior workflow specialist at ActBlue and the group’s former vice president of customer service, Alyssa Twomey. Both had been scheduled for voluntary interviews with Republican-led House committees before the White House authorized a more aggressive approach.

President Trump signed an executive memorandum on April 24 directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate alleged “straw” or “dummy” donations through online platforms like ActBlue and to report findings within 180 days. The DOJ inquiry had not been publicly disclosed until the release of the committee letters.

Attorneys representing the ActBlue officials responded with a request to delay the congressional interviews, citing the ongoing Justice Department probe and asking the House to stand down until the executive branch clarifies its position. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), and Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) rejected the appeal, saying Congress has a duty to “ensure that bad actors, including foreign ones, cannot exploit online fundraising platforms to interfere in U.S. elections.”

In a sharply worded statement, the Republican chairmen accused ActBlue of “a fundamentally unserious approach to fraud prevention” and alleged the platform intentionally weakened its verification protocols during the 2024 campaign season. A March oversight report revealed that ActBlue processed 1,900 fraudulent transactions between September 2022 and November 2024, including at least 237 linked to foreign IP addresses and prepaid cards.

Internal documents cited in the report show that ActBlue did not require basic card verification value (CVV) checks for donations until January 2024–halfway through the election cycle. Even after minimal controls were introduced, staff were allegedly instructed to “look for reasons to accept contributions,” according to whistleblower testimony.

ActBlue, which has raised over $16.8 billion for Democratic candidates and causes since 2004, denied wrongdoing and slammed the investigation as a partisan attack. “This Administration continues to weaponize the instruments of federal power in an unprecedented assault on our democracy,” the organization said in a statement. It pledged to “pursue all legal avenues” to defend itself.

In addition to defending its own actions, ActBlue blasted the simultaneous House and DOJ investigations as “collaborative, partisan” efforts aimed at silencing political opposition. A spokesperson said the subpoenas reflect “deep concerns about constitutional overreach and due process.”

President Trump has made ActBlue a target throughout his political career, often citing the platform’s influence in fueling Democratic fundraising. In 2019, Republicans launched WinRed to mimic its success, with Trump calling the effort essential to “even the playing field.” Despite their criticism, GOP lawmakers have yet to produce definitive evidence of criminal wrongdoing at ActBlue.

Democrats have fired back by using the controversy as a rallying cry. The Democratic National Committee urged supporters to donate in response to Trump’s executive order, framing the investigation as an assault on grassroots political participation.

The subpoenaed ActBlue officials are expected to testify before Congress later this month. The current workflow specialist has been called for a July 14 appearance, while Twomey is scheduled for a deposition on July 23.

Though the investigation remains in early stages, the inquiry underscores growing tensions over campaign finance transparency and foreign influence in U.S. elections–issues that could further inflame partisan divisions as the 2024 election fallout continues to reverberate.

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