Full Breakdown
Progressive Politicians Keep Using ActBlue Amid Ongoing Congressional Probe
8/18/2026, 12:43:03 AM
Core Event: High-Profile Campaigns Still Rely on ActBlue
Prominent progressives—including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed—continue to channel donations through ActBlue despite a House investigation into the platform’s fraud-prevention practices and alleged foreign contributions. ActBlue also processes funds for the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and dozens of other Democratic campaigns and progressive groups.
Background & Context: Investigation and Fraud Allegations
Since 2023, House committees have examined whether ActBlue’s safeguards adequately block illegal foreign and fraudulent donations. An interim staff report released in April 2025 cited internal ActBlue records showing 237 contributions from foreign IP addresses using domestic prepaid cards during a 30-day period in late 2024. The investigation remains ongoing, and no violations have been formally found.
Data & Statistics
- ActBlue has processed more than $19 billion in donations since its 2004 launch.
- Federal Election Commission (FEC) records attribute over 15,000 contributions by Elizabeth Waffle of Milan, Michigan, spanning six years.
- Between September 2020 and June 2026, FEC data show more than 16,000 contributions totaling nearly $150,000 linked to Waffle.
- A separate review found 47 ActBlue contributions amounting to about $518 for El-Sayed’s campaign from October 2025 to July 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil confirmed that the committee is examining Waffle’s case as part of the broader probe and noted that ActBlue employees have repeatedly refused to answer questions under oath about fraud and illegal foreign donations. Regina Wallace-Jones, ActBlue’s CEO, invoked the Fifth Amendment during a June hearing and declined to comment on the platform’s practices.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Democrats claim to oppose special interests with one exception: their own. They defend fraud and schemes like ActBlue because they know cheating the system is the only way for their corrupt campaigns to raise money,” — Ally Triolo, the RNC's election integrity communications director
- “Everything goes through ActBlue.” — Elizabeth Waffle, resident
- “ActBlue employees have repeatedly refused to answer questions under oath about fraud and illegal foreign donations on their platform," Steil said in a statement to Fox News Digital.” — Bryan Steil, administration committee chairman
