{"id":2612976,"date":"2026-06-10T13:24:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T17:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/actblue-ceo-pleads-the-fifth-about-foreign-donations\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T13:27:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T17:27:20","slug":"actblue-ceo-pleads-the-fifth-about-foreign-donations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/actblue-ceo-pleads-the-fifth-about-foreign-donations\/","title":{"rendered":"ActBlue CEO pleads the Fifth about foreign donations"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Factblue-ceo-pleads-the-fifth-about-foreign-donations%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2612976&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones invoked her Fifth Amendment rights repeatedly during a House hearing after lawmakers questioned whether the Democratic donation platform accepted foreign payments and misled Congress about its fraud-prevention and donor-vetting safeguards.  <\/p>\n<p>At issue was a 2023 letter to Rep. Bryan Steil stating that ActBlue only processes donations with passport facts. Steil pressed Wallace-Jones on whether she believed that statement was false or misleading, but she declined to answer, citing the Fifth Amendment. ActBlue\u2019s lawyers previously warned-based on internal materials reported by the *new York Times*-that the statement may have been inaccurate as foreign nationals could potentially use third-party portals like PayPal or Venmo to avoid ActBlue\u2019s passport documentation requirements.  <\/p>\n<p>the hearing followed earlier depositions in which multiple ActBlue staff members also refused to answer questions under Fifth Amendment protections, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/child-abusers-top-ices-list-of-worst-of-the-worst-illegal-aliens-49\/\" title=\"Child Abusers Top ICE&#039;s List Of &#039;Worst Of The Worst&#039; Illegal Aliens\">prior congressional report<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president and chief executive officer of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ActBlue\/\">ActBlue<\/a> repeatedly invoked her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/constitution\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"424\">Fifth Amendment<\/a> rights against self-incrimination on Wednesday when lawmakers pressed her about the Democratic donation platform allegedly accepting foreign payments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ActBlue, the primary payment processor of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"288\">Democratic Party<\/a>, is accused of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/prosecutors-never-interviewed-tony-bobulinski-whistleblower-tells-congress-in-testimony-on-biden-corruption\/\" title=\"Whistleblower reveals: Prosecutors never questioned Tony Bobulinski about Biden corruption\">allowing foreign actors<\/a> to influence U.S. elections in favor of Democrats and lying to Congress about vulnerabilities in its donor-vetting system.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4601382\/karmelo-anthony-guilty-verdict-austin-metcalf-murder\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Karmelo Anthony jury returns with guilty verdict in Austin Metcalf murder<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4600635\/petition-charge-officers-henry-nowak-murder-200000-signatures\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Petition to charge officers involved in Henry Nowak murder surpasses 200,000 signatures<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4600714\/judge-killing-iryna-zarutska-decarlos-brown-jr-incompetent-trial\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Judge finds suspect accused of killing Iryna Zarutska incompetent to stand trial for now<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones faced pointed questions at a House hearing on Wednesday concerning past statements she made attesting to the platform\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyt-ignores-actblues-suspect-behavior-to-run-cover-for-dems\/\" title=\"NYT Ignores ...&#039;s Suspect Behavior To Run Cover For Dems\">fraud-prevention practices<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), chairman of the House Administration Committee, asked Wallace-Jones about <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/cha.house.gov\/_cache\/files\/4\/5\/453a1689-6471-4632-8874-2ea5018820a7\/FEE0032E48BFF011537DA5927F7E9298.response-to-house-admin-committee-11-27-23.pdf\">a 2023 letter<\/a> she sent him assuring lawmakers that the company has robust safeguards in place to prevent campaign contributions from foreign sources.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOnly donations with passport information are processed,\u201d Wallace-Jones wrote at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ActBlue\u2019s lawyers, however, later warned in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/04\/02\/us\/politics\/actblue-democrat-fundraising-foreign-donations.html\">internal memos<\/a> obtained by the <em>New York Time<\/em>s that the CEO\u2019s statements to Congress were inaccurate and could pose legal risks. The attorneys found that foreign nationals may have used third<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >-party donation portals<\/a>, such as PayPal and Venmo, to bypass ActBlue\u2019s passport documentation requirements.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMs. Wallace-Jones, when you signed this letter to me, did you believe that this letter was false and misleading?\u201d Steil asked on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4514005\/actblue-congress-foreign-donations\/\"><strong>ACTBLUE\u2019S LAWYERS SAID IT MAY HAVE MISLED CONGRESS ON FOREIGN DONATIONS: REPORT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOn the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer this question pursuant to my Fifth Amendment rights under the Constitution,\u201d answered Wallace-Jones.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wallace-Jones repeated the prepared response to every question directed to her, including inquiries concerning whether she knew the letter contained false statements and if she ever considered correcting the record.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019ve been asked legitimate questions that are intended to elicit information the committee has the right to have to aid our inquiry,\u201d Steil told Wallace-Jones. \u201cYou\u2019ve refused to answer the questions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Steil said Wallace-Jones originally was going to appear before the committee voluntarily, but her attorneys requested a subpoena on Monday that would <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4529938\/congress-mulls-compelling-testimony-actblue-leadership\/\">compel the CEO\u2019s appearance<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe provided you [with] that subpoena,\u201d Steil said. \u201cYou\u2019re here today. You have an opportunity to testify, and you\u2019ve chosen to take your Fifth Amendment constitutional right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wallace-Jones announced in a <em>Washington Post<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/opinions\/2026\/06\/10\/actblue-ceo-why-i-will-invoke-my-5th-amendment-rights-before-congress\/\">op-ed<\/a> ahead of her scheduled testimony that she intended to assert her Fifth Amendment privileges throughout the House hearing. \u201cSilence in response to bad-faith action is not retreat \u2014 it is a bedrock American right,\u201d Wallace-Jones wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">House Republicans previously deposed five former and current ActBlue staffers who similarly remained silent on Fifth Amendment grounds, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/cha.house.gov\/_cache\/files\/3\/8\/38c5b123-c3a6-4f01-af81-bd84ab18ab3e\/FE28E5F9EF6D19F3E5800E2C5131948B9EDE874A9B7ABD3EC2B663086CD7AC3F.04.20.26-fraud-on-actblue-part-ii.pdf\">an April congressional report<\/a> on the joint investigation into the foreign funding allegations against ActBlue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3386034\/actblue-democratic-party-fundraising-controversies\/\"><strong>FEELING BLUE: HOW ACTBLUE, DEMOCRATS\u2019 FAVORITE FUNDRAISER, IMPLODED<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/cha.house.gov\/_cache\/files\/5\/e\/5e43ad0f-550a-4dc9-aa43-ca2aae1bb3c6\/81E1C0C9C40F3FFE4158CD4D6667E6BEC20D6472FC80D5E9F3F65FB8733147A6.actblue-depositions.pdf\">depositions<\/a>, the ActBlue employees declined to answer a single question about alleged cover-up efforts within the organization, instead invoking the Fifth Amendment <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4538704\/actblue-employees-fifth-amendment-depositions\/\">a total of 140 times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is a tale as old as time,\u201d Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) said at Wednesday\u2019s hearing. \u201cYou get caught doing something wrong and when you\u2019re questioned about it, you deny it. And when evidence emerges and questions persist, you take the Fifth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ActBlue CEO invoked Fifth Amendment as lawmakers questioned foreign donations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2612977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2042440_sd_67d837a722231_1742223271.jpg?w=640","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[23495,81143,81144,5894],"class_list":["post-2612976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-actblue","tag-election-campaigns-2","tag-legal-drama-2","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2042440_sd_67d837a722231_1742223271.jpg?w=640","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2612976"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2612980,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612976\/revisions\/2612980"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2612977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2612976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2612976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2612976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}