ActBlue Attorneys Warned of 'Substantial Risk' of Foreign Donations

Democratic fundraising platform may have misled Congress about vetting overseas contributions

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:20pm

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A warm, cinematic painting of a solitary political donation box in a dimly lit urban setting, with deep shadows and diagonal sunlight creating a contemplative, nostalgic mood.The allegations against ActBlue's foreign donation practices cast a long shadow over the Democratic fundraising juggernaut.Covington Today

Attorneys for the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue warned the organization's leadership in 2025 that it may have lied to Congress about its efforts to reject illegal political donations from foreign citizens. Covington and Burling attorneys noted that ActBlue did not verify passport information from donors who paid through third-party apps, presenting a 'substantial risk' to the platform.

Why it matters

ActBlue processes the majority of online donations to left-leaning politicians, PACs, and nonprofits across the country. If the platform was accepting foreign donations, it could have had a significant impact on US elections. The revelations raise questions about ActBlue's transparency and compliance with campaign finance laws.

The details

Covington and Burling attorneys warned ActBlue's senior leadership in 2025 that the platform did not verify passport information from donors who paid through third-party apps like Apple Pay or Venmo. This oversight presented a 'substantial risk' to ActBlue, which processes over $7 billion in small-dollar contributions each election cycle. Covington also warned ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones that she could face legal liability over a 2023 letter to Congress claiming the platform had 'multilayered' checks to prevent foreign donations.

  • In early 2025, Covington and Burling attorneys issued memos warning ActBlue's leadership about the platform's foreign donation vetting issues.
  • In 2023, ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones told congressional investigators the platform had measures to reject illegal foreign donations.

The players

ActBlue

A Democratic fundraising platform that has processed over $7 billion in small-dollar contributions in the past five years, facilitating online donations for the majority of left-of-center politicians, PACs, and nonprofits.

Regina Wallace-Jones

The CEO of ActBlue who told congressional investigators in 2023 that the platform had 'multilayered' checks to prevent foreign donations.

Covington and Burling

The D.C.-based law firm that issued memos in 2025 warning ActBlue's leadership about the platform's foreign donation vetting issues.

Aaron Ting

ActBlue's former in-house attorney who resigned in early 2025 due to concerns about the platform's representations to Congress.

Eric Holder

The former U.S. Attorney General who now serves as senior counsel at Covington and Burling, and has charged high fees to conduct 'racial equity audits' for corporations.

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What they’re saying

“I am concerned that leadership is not fully committed to transparently addressing with the Board the seriousness of our most pressing concerns: the legal compliance of ActBlue's past practices for screening political donations from abroad and its past representations to Congress regarding foreign donations and related matters.”

— Aaron Ting, Former ActBlue in-house attorney

What’s next

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into ActBlue following a 2025 order from President Donald Trump to look into allegations the platform facilitated political contributions by foreign nationals.

The takeaway

The revelations about ActBlue's foreign donation vetting issues raise serious concerns about the integrity of the Democratic fundraising apparatus and the platform's transparency with Congress. It highlights the need for robust campaign finance regulations and enforcement to prevent foreign interference in US elections.