House Republicans are rallying around a recent subpoena issued by the House Administration Committee targeting ActBlue, the fundraising powerhouse aligned with the Democratic Party. Republicans argue that the platform lacks robust donor verification standards, opening it up to potential abuse by foreign entities. Committee Chair Bryan Steil of Wisconsin has voiced his concerns, claiming ActBlue’s system is vulnerable to illegal foreign donations, even as ActBlue continues to assert that it “rigorously protects donors’ security.”
Representative Richard Hudson, who heads the GOP’s campaign arm, was quick to underscore the importance of Steil’s actions, calling for greater transparency from ActBlue over alleged foreign funds flowing through the site. Hudson emphasized that just as Republicans are focused on safeguarding the voting rights of American citizens, they must also ensure that foreign financial meddling doesn’t infiltrate American elections. House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik went a step further, hinting at potential interference from major foreign players like China and Iran, which she claims are using ActBlue to tilt the scales toward Kamala Harris and Democratic candidates.
The controversy has sparked heightened scrutiny on ActBlue’s past approach to security. Until recently, the platform didn’t require a card verification value (CVV) for donations, a lapse that has raised eyebrows among Republican lawmakers and several state attorneys general. Steil has made several requests for information on ActBlue’s security protocols, with the platform repeatedly asserting that it meets high standards for donor protection. However, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise emphasized his support for the subpoena, noting that only American citizens should influence U.S. elections and that investigating potential foreign interference is essential for election integrity.
With the subpoena in hand, Steil is seeking a trove of documents related to ActBlue’s donor verification practices, focusing on concerns that countries like Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and China could be exploiting the platform to funnel illicit funds into U.S. campaigns. ActBlue has pushed back, stating that it will respond to Steil’s inquiries while dismissing what it claims are inaccuracies and misrepresentations about its platform. It reaffirmed a “zero tolerance” stance on fraud, though Republicans on Steil’s committee remain unconvinced.
Representative Laurel Lee, chair of the committee’s election subcommittee, noted that their investigation thus far has pointed to loopholes within ActBlue’s security system. These vulnerabilities, she argues, could be allowing foreign actors to pose as American donors, potentially enabling contributions from hostile nations like China and Russia without the knowledge of those in whose names donations are made.
