ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a House hearing on Wednesday, declining to answer questions about allegations that the Democratic fundraising platform misled Congress regarding foreign donations. The hearing comes amid a Republican-led investigation into whether ActBlue improperly allowed foreign contributions to influence U.S. elections.
Wallace-Jones faced questions about a 2023 letter she sent to Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), in which she asserted that ActBlue had robust safeguards to prevent foreign donations. However, internal memos obtained by the New York Times suggested her statements may have been inaccurate, as foreign nationals could have bypassed the platform’s vetting system through third-party payment processors like PayPal and Venmo.
Steil pressed Wallace-Jones on whether she believed the letter was false, but she repeatedly declined to answer, citing her Fifth Amendment rights. ActBlue has denied making false statements to Congress, arguing that the Republican probe is politically motivated. The platform’s lawyers had previously warned that Wallace-Jones’ statements could pose legal risks.
The House Administration Committee, led by Steil, has been investigating ActBlue’s donor-vetting practices for years. House Judiciary and Oversight Committee chairs, Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and James Comer (R-KY), have also been involved in the probe. Wallace-Jones initially agreed to testify voluntarily in May but later requested a subpoena, which was issued by Republicans.