Matt DeBergalis, cofounder of ActBlue, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a closed-door deposition before three House committees on August 20, 2026. The deposition lasted less than 30 minutes, according to sources familiar with the hearing. Lawmakers from the House Administration, Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform committees conducted the session as part of a joint Republican-led investigation into allegations that ActBlue’s fraud-prevention practices allowed fraudulent or foreign donations to enter U.S. political campaigns.
DeBergalis was seen entering and exiting the committee room within approximately 25 minutes, per reports from witnesses. The development was first reported by Fox News, which noted the brevity of the session. ActBlue has denied violating the law and stated it did not knowingly permit illegal foreign contributions. The platform has previously updated its donation requirements, including making CVV verification mandatory for credit card contributions.
House Republicans’ Allegations
The investigation, launched in 2023, centers on whether ActBlue adequately verified donors and misled Congress about its safeguards. A joint report released by the committees in April 2025 alleged that ActBlue employees were aware of fraudulent activity on the platform but did not treat the threat seriously. The report also claimed that foreign and domestic actors exploited weaknesses in ActBlue’s systems before the CVV requirement was implemented.
Republican lawmakers have subpoenaed current and former ActBlue employees, including the platform’s current CEO, Regina Wallace. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) publicly questioned ActBlue’s transparency, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “What is ActBlue hiding?” The committees have not provided further details on the scope of their findings or next steps in the investigation.
ActBlue’s Response and Policy Changes
ActBlue has maintained its compliance with election laws and stated that its fraud-prevention measures have been strengthened over time. The platform now requires CVV verification for all donations, a change implemented in response to prior scrutiny. The company has not commented on DeBergalis’ testimony or the specifics of the deposition beyond its general denial of wrongdoing.
Background of the Investigation
ActBlue is a major fundraising platform for Democratic campaigns, used by figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The House Administration Committee, which oversees U.S. election laws, has jurisdiction over the probe. Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) has accused ActBlue of potentially accepting foreign or fraudulent donations due to its prior lack of CVV verification requirements.
The investigation follows broader Republican concerns about foreign interference in U.S. elections and the integrity of political fundraising platforms. No criminal charges or additional legal actions have been announced as a result of the committee’s findings.