Matt DeBergalis, co-founder of the Democratic Party’s major online fundraising platform ActBlue, invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during a closed-door congressional deposition Thursday morning. The session concluded within less than 30 minutes after DeBergalis declined to answer questions regarding allegations about foreign and potentially fraudulent contributions processed through the platform.
DeBergalis appeared before members and staff from the House Judiciary Committee, House Administration Committee, and House Oversight Committee. These panels are investigating whether ActBlue adequately prevented fraudulent donations—including funds reportedly originating from prohibited foreign sources. The deposition followed a broader congressional probe into the organization’s compliance practices amid claims it allowed foreign contributions to infiltrate U.S. political processes without sufficient safeguards.
ActBlue has consistently maintained that its systems are robust against fraud and foreign interference, asserting that donors living abroad must be physically present in the United States to contribute. The company also reported strengthening its anti-fraud protocols in 2025. However, investigators have cited internal estimates suggesting as much as $38 million in 2024 contributions showed indicators of foreign origin, prompting continued scrutiny.
DeBergalis is not the first high-level ActBlue official to invoke the Fifth Amendment during congressional inquiries; former CEO Regina Wallace-Jones did so in a June public hearing. A House Administration Committee report further revealed five current or former ActBlue employees invoked the constitutional protection 146 times during earlier depositions, while the organization’s compliance team experienced an exodus of staff by March 2025.
The rapid conclusion of DeBergalis’ deposition has intensified pressure on Congress to determine whether additional legal action—such as subpoenas or formal referrals—is warranted based on the mounting evidence and unanswered questions about ActBlue’s oversight mechanisms.
