U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., joined two fellow House committee chairmen in threatening contempt proceedings against ActBlue Monday after the Democratic fundraising platform refused to turn over hundreds of documents sought in a congressional investigation.
In a letter released by the House Judiciary Committee, Steil, who chairs the House Administration Committee, joined Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., in rejecting ActBlue’s claim that more than 400 documents are protected by attorney-client privilege. The lawmakers set a June 26 deadline for compliance.
“ActBlue appears to be withholding these documents from the Committees in an attempt to cover up the scope and duration of its misconduct,” the chairmen wrote.
The dispute centers on records involving former ActBlue Interim General Counsel Aaron Ting and attorney Zain Ahmad. Lawmakers say Ting raised concerns in 2025 about donor screening practices and the platform’s representations to Congress before resigning. They also cite internal communications involving Ahmad, who allegedly reported retaliation after raising internal concerns.
Republicans argue the privilege claims do not apply because the materials include communications involving employees acting in non-legal roles. ActBlue has denied wrongdoing and said it is cooperating with congressional requests while asserting privilege over certain materials.
ActBlue sits at the center of Democratic online fundraising infrastructure, processing large volumes of small-dollar donations for federal, state and local campaigns.
In Wisconsin, the platform is a core piece of campaign finance operations for Democrats. It is widely used by candidates for the state Legislature, statewide offices and party committees, including the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, and serves as the default online donation system across much of the party’s ecosystem in a battleground state where digital fundraising is a key driver of campaign viability.
That reach has made ActBlue a frequent focus in broader debates over campaign finance rules and donor verification standards.
Steil, who chairs the House Administration Committee, has played a central role in the investigation and has pushed for tighter oversight of online fundraising systems used in federal elections.
Dairyland Sentinel previously reported on Steil’s expanding role in congressional oversight of campaign finance platforms and Republican efforts to examine whether existing safeguards are sufficient to prevent improper contributions from entering U.S. campaigns.
If ActBlue does not meet the June 26 deadline, House Republicans have indicated contempt proceedings remain under consideration
