ActBlue officials subpoenaed by House Republicans amid DOJ probe into alleged fundraising fraud

House Republicans have issued subpoenas to two current and former ActBlue officials in connection with what they allege is “widespread” fraud on the Democratic Party’s largest online fundraising platform, according to subpoena letters obtained by The New York Post. The development coincides with a Justice Department investigation launched under an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.

Subpoenas were issued Wednesday to an unnamed current ActBlue senior workflow specialist and former Vice President of Customer Service Alyssa Twomey. The letters were signed by the GOP chairmen of three powerful House committees: Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY), Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Administration Chair Bryan Steil (R-WI).

The witnesses had previously agreed to participate in voluntary interviews before Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to open a federal investigation into the alleged use of “straw” or “dummy” donors through online platforms.

Attorney Danny Onorato, representing the ActBlue employees, quickly filed a request urging the committees to delay the interviews until the Department of Justice completes its probe or clarifies its stance. But House Republicans rebuffed the request, insisting their investigation can, and should, proceed concurrently. “Many congressional investigations have occurred in parallel to Executive Branch investigations of the same or related matters,” the committee chairs wrote, citing legal precedent. They accused ActBlue of taking “a fundamentally unserious approach to fraud prevention” during the most recent election cycle.

According to internal records cited in the subpoenas, ActBlue relaxed its security standards during the 2024 campaign season. For much of the election cycle, the platform did not require donors to enter credit card verification (CVV) codes, a standard security measure. Even after new protocols were introduced in January 2024, internal directives reportedly told staff to “look for reasons to accept contributions.”

A House Oversight and Administration Committee staff report released in March found approximately 1,900 fraudulent transactions on ActBlue between September 2022 and November 2024. The same report flagged at least 237 prepaid cards used to make donations from foreign IP addresses during just a two-month span in 2024. “Congress has a specific interest in ensuring that bad actors, including foreign actors, cannot make fraudulent or illegal political donations through online fundraising platforms,” the GOP leaders wrote.

The Trump administration’s executive order, signed April 24, mandated a full DOJ report on the ActBlue fraud allegations within 180 days. In response, ActBlue has claimed that the investigations are politically motivated. In a statement issued in late April, the platform said, “The Trump administration and GOP’s targeting of ActBlue is part of their brazen attack on democracy in America.” In a June 9 letter, ActBlue’s legal team accused congressional Republicans of transforming the probe into something “other than a legislative fact-gathering effort.”

Founded in 2004, ActBlue has processed over $16 billion in donations to Democratic candidates and progressive causes. Despite mounting scrutiny, ActBlue maintains that it remains committed to secure and ethical fundraising. 

Twomey is scheduled to appear for testimony on July 23, while the senior workflow specialist is set to testify on July 14.