House Republicans have taken a decisive step by issuing subpoenas to two individuals linked to ActBlue, the Democratic Party's largest online fundraising platform.
This move is part of an investigation into what Republicans allege is "widespread" fraud. The subpoenas, as reported by The New York Post, target a current senior workflow specialist and Alyssa Twomey, a former Vice President of Customer Service at ActBlue. This development aligns with a Justice Department investigation initiated under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
According to The Post Millennial, the subpoenas were signed by the chairmen of three influential House committees: James Comer of the Oversight Committee, Jim Jordan of the Judiciary Committee, and Bryan Steil of the Administration Committee.
These witnesses had initially agreed to voluntary interviews before President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a federal investigation into the alleged use of "straw" or "dummy" donors on online platforms. Despite a request from ActBlue's attorney, Danny Onorato, to delay the interviews until the Department of Justice concludes its probe, House Republicans have insisted on proceeding with their investigation.
They argue that congressional investigations can run parallel to Executive Branch inquiries, citing legal precedent. The committee chairs have criticized ActBlue for what they describe as a "fundamentally unserious approach to fraud prevention" during the recent election cycle.
Internal records referenced in the subpoenas suggest that ActBlue lowered its security standards during the 2024 campaign season. Notably, the platform reportedly did not require donors to enter credit card verification (CVV) codes, a standard security measure. Even after implementing new protocols in January 2024, staff were allegedly instructed to "look for reasons to accept contributions."
A report from the House Oversight and Administration Committee, released in March, identified approximately 1,900 fraudulent transactions on ActBlue between September 2022 and November 2024. The report also highlighted the use of at least 237 prepaid cards for donations from foreign IP addresses over a two-month period in 2024.
The GOP leaders emphasized Congress's vested interest in preventing fraudulent or illegal political donations through online platforms, particularly by foreign actors.
The executive order from the Trump administration, signed on April 24, requires a comprehensive DOJ report on the ActBlue fraud allegations within 180 days. ActBlue, however, has dismissed the investigations as politically motivated.
In a statement from late April, the platform asserted, "The Trump administration and GOPs targeting of ActBlue is part of their brazen attack on democracy in America." Furthermore, in a letter dated June 9, ActBlue's legal team accused congressional Republicans of turning the probe into something "other than a legislative fact-gathering effort."
Since its inception in 2004, ActBlue has facilitated over $16 billion in donations to Democratic candidates and progressive causes. Despite the increasing scrutiny, the platform insists on its commitment to secure and ethical fundraising. Alyssa Twomey is scheduled to testify on July 23, while the senior workflow specialist is set to appear on July 14.
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