Matt DeBergalis, co-founder of ActBlue, invoked the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door deposition before three significant House committees. This was reported by sources familiar with Fox News Digital.
The depositions are part of a joint investigation by the Committee on House Administration, House Oversight Committee, and House Judiciary Committee. These committees are examining ActBlue, a major fundraising platform for Democrats, regarding allegations of inadequate fraud prevention that might have allowed foreign donations in U.S. campaigns.
DeBergalis’ approximately 25-minute deposition took place Thursday morning. Fox News observed him entering and leaving the committee room within this brief timeframe.
Photograph of ActBlue’s workplace taken in Somerville, Mass., on Nov. 13, 2018, shows the company’s Boston office space. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
ActBlue’s reach in Democratic campaigns is significant, utilized by representatives such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
Although pleading the Fifth Amendment isn’t an admission of guilt, ActBlue has consistently denied breaking any laws amid Republican investigations. The Committee on House Administration, managing U.S. election laws, began investigating ActBlue in 2023. Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) alleged that foreign or fraudulent donations might have been accepted due to the group’s previous policy of not requiring credit card CVV numbers for donations.
ActBlue has since updated its policy to include CVV numbers for contributions.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo includes an image of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) speaking at the Capitol in Washington on Dec. 13, 2023.
In April 2025, a report by the committees claimed ActBlue executives and staff are aware of exploitation by both foreign and domestic fraudsters but allegedly do not take these threats seriously. Earlier this year, the platform’s current CEO also used the Fifth Amendment during a public congressional hearing.
Before the deposition, Steil expressed uncertainty about whether ActBlue has improved its standards. It’s unclear how serious ActBlue is now taking fraud. We know they weakened their fraud standards previously. Did they make the changes that are needed to root out foreign funds from coming into U.S. Elections?
Steil asked. Image of House Administration Committee Chairman Brian Steil (R-Wis.) delivering a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10, 2025. (Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)
He cited frustration at other ActBlue executives’ non-responsiveness to Republican inquiries. What is so frustrating for me, and I think countless others, is they have a right not to answer our questions. However, I believe the American people have the right to know what’s happening on this platform that has raised about $20 billion for Democratic candidates and liberal causes since its inception,
Steil remarked.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics journalist at Fox News Digital, primarily covering the House of Representatives. Her works have appeared on Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow her on Twitter at @liz_elkind and contact tips to [email protected].