WASHINGTON — ActBlue employees invoked their Fifth Amendment right at least 146 times in depositions with congressional committees investigating alleged donor fraud on the fundraising platform, according to an explosive report released Monday.
Two ActBlue officials, one of whom formerly served as VP of customer service, and three of its former lawyers “declined to answer a single one of the Committees’ substantive questions,” stated the interim staff report from the House Administration, Oversight and Judiciary Committees.
“Their unwillingness to testify only amplifies the Committees’ concerns,” the report added of the depositions between July and December 2025, also citing ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Wells’ seemingly “false statements to Congress” and withholding of documents pursuant to a subpoena for records.
ActBlue has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and in a recent statement through a spokesperson maintained that it has “always been forthcoming with Congress.”The Fifth Amendment protects witnesses from self-incrimination by allowing them to say silent.
Over 250 journalists demand reporters ‘forcefully’ protest Trump at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
WASHINGTON — Forget covering protests — some reporters think they should be the ones making the ruckus.
A group of over 250 journalists implored members of the Beltway press corps to “forcefully demonstrate opposition” to President Trump at the ritzy White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
Trump, 79, is set to attend the swanky dinner for the first time in his presidency. But the group of 250 reporters is demanding that the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) ensure he doesn’t feel welcome.
“We believe the White House Correspondents Association should take stronger action by issuing — from the podium — a forceful defense of freedom of the press and condemnation of those who threaten that freedom, followed by a standing toast to the First Amendment,” the letter to members of the WHCA said.
“Speak forcefully, in front of the man who seeks to undermine our country’s long tradition of an independent, strong, and free press.”
The WHCA, which represents the White House press corps, is organizing the annual dinner and has clashed with Trump repeatedly over the past year.
Early last year, the White House press team began meddling in the pool rotation, in which outlets take turns getting special access to the president to share their notes and footage with everyone else.
Historically, the WHCA has set the pool rotation. Notably, the White House has left the WHCA in charge of determining outlet seat locations in the press briefing room.
Veteran journalists such as Dan Rather urged the Beltway press corps to “forcefully demonstrate opposition” to the president. Getty Images for SiriusXM
Prominent veteran journalists such as former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, infamous for erroneous reporting on President George W. Bush’s military service, and former ABC News anchor Sam Donaldson signed the missive.
Groups such as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Coalition for Women in Journalism, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, and more signed it as well.
The letter aired a litany of grievances against Trump, such as his defamation suits against various outlets, alleged favoritism toward conservative media, and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s offensive tactics.
Another complaint was Trump’s decision to pardon Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters, which the letter claims sends a “message that attacks on the press will be forgiven.”
They also noted in the letter that many journalists attending the ritzy dinner on Saturday intend to wear lapel pins or pocket handkerchiefs emblazoned with the words of the First Amendment as a more low-key protest.
The call for protests comes amid polling pegging trust in the media at all-time lows, particularly among Republican voters. Last year, Gallup found that only 28% of the public has a great or fair amount of trust in mass media.
Last year, the WHCA was pressured to cancel comedian Amber Ruffin, whom it tapped to headline the feted dinner after she publicly called the Trump administration a “bunch of murderers,” and complained about being asked to tone down her material
This year, the WHCA has tapped mentalist Oz Pearlman as the night’s main entertainment instead of a traditional comedian.
The last time Trump attended a White House Correspondents’ Dinner was 2011, when then-President Barack Obama mercilessly roasted him for peddling conspiracy theories about Obama’s birth certificate.
“Because the Press was extraordinarily bad to me, FAKE NEWS ALL, right from the beginning of my First Term, I boycotted the event, and never went as Honoree,” Trump explained on Truth Social last month. “However, I look forward to being with everyone this year. Hopefully, it will be something very Special.”
The Post contacted the WHCA for comment. The White House referred The Post to Trump’s Truth Social post last month when asked for comment about the letter.
'Maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had.'
A 31-year-old male fatally shot eight children execution style in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Sunday morning — and seven of the victims were the shooter's own children, authorities told the New York Times.
The gunman, Shamar Elkins — who was fatally shot following a police chase — had mental health problems and recently had expressed suicidal thoughts, the Times said, citing family members' statements in interviews.
'My babies — my babies are gone.'
The children ranged in age from 1 to 14, officials told the paper, and seven of the eight were Elkins' own children. A Shreveport Police Department spokesman said he shot them execution style, the Times reported.
Elkins also shot two other people, including his wife, who was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, the paper said, citing officials and relatives.
The suspect was arrested after he allegedly traveled to meet someone he believed to be a male minor.
A veteran Washington, D.C., police officer was allegedly caught sending horrendous messages to a person he believed to be a 15-year-old male.
Lt. Matthew Mahl was placed on administrative leave at the D.C. Metro Police Department after being arrested on Tuesday in Harford County, Maryland, on charges of sexual solicitation of a minor and two counts of child porn solicitation.
'It really is a horrific tragedy when we think about the impact that this could have on young people.'
Mahl, 47, had been the head of the Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit of MPD before he was elected to head the union, officially called the Labor Committee of the Fraternal Order of Police, in 2016.
He is accused of seeking to have sex with a person he believed to be a male teenager after meeting them on the Reddit online platform in a thread titled, "r/GayYoungOldDating."
The 58-year-old has been plagued by accusations of improper behavior.
Another member of President Donald Trump's cabinet is stepping down after a turbulent 13-month term at the Department of Labor.
The White House praised Lori Chavez-DeRemer's time as labor secretary in a statement Monday announcing that she would be leaving the administration to join private industry.
'While my time serving in the Administration comes to a conclusion, it doesn't mean I will stop fighting for American workers.'
"Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector," White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung said on social media. "She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives."
Cheung said Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling would become acting director of the agency.
The bizarre revision was made months after Republicans called for her to release further financial documents.
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota faced intense scrutiny after revising the personal wealth she amassed in her required financial disclosure as a member of Congress.
Omar had previously reported that her wealth grew from $51K in one year to at least $6 million and up to $30 million. Members of Congress are not required to report exact sums but general valuations of their wealth.
'While anyone can make a mistake on any type of form, the scope and scale of the mistake does not pass the smell test.'
In February, Republicans demanded financial documents from Omar and her husband related to the suspicious report of a massive increase in wealth.
Months later, Omar is saying mistakes were made.
"The amended disclosure confirms what we've said all along: The congresswoman is not a millionaire," said Jacklyn Rogers, a spokesperson for Omar.
Rogers added that the form was amended "as soon as the discrepancy was identified."
The new disclosure form says Omar and her husband's assets are worth between $18,004 and $95,000.
Economic expert and Blaze Media contributor Carol Roth explained the dubious nature of the revision in a statement to Blaze News.
"Who among us hasn't made a $6 million to $30 million error in estimating our net worth for disclosure documents?" Roth replied.
"While anyone can make a mistake on any type of form, the scope and scale of the mistake does not pass the smell test. It seems appropriate for the appropriate governmental bodies to put forth extra scrutiny on Rep. Omar and her family's finances, given this 'mistake,'" she added.
Republican Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota sharply criticized Omar after the financial revision.
"Not only should her accountant be fired, but that girl should be fired and she does not deserve to be in Congress," Emmer said.
"Quite frankly, if she is discovered to be involved in any of this fraud personally, that she benefited from it, even by her actions of promoting it and trying to resist investigations, she should be held accountable to the fullest extent," he added.
Cellphone video shows a chaotic scene in the dorm lobby.
A gang of juvenile males chased a Temple University student into a dorm, physically attacked the victim, and went on a rampage that included property damage — and it all took place around 3 a.m. Sunday.
The assault occurred inside the Morgan Hall South dorm at Broad and Oxford Streets in North Philadelphia, WPVI-TV reported.
'We're here for the safety of our residents and our students. So, when anybody is victimized, it's concerning to us. We take it very seriously.'
Temple University police released surveillance photos showing at least nine males in connection with the assault, the station said.
Police told WPVI the victim suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment; officers are still looking into what led up to the attack.
Investigators told the station in a separate story that cellphone video shows suspects damaging property inside the dorm lobby; one individual is seen smashing a monitor at a security desk.
WPVI spoke with a student who said he used to live in the residence hall and received a campus alert about the attack.
"It puts the threat actually into perspective because, especially knowing as a college student your main priority is education, not really safety, but this happening is a little bit more in the forefront," sophomore Emanuel Turner told WPVI.
Officials added to the station that they're working with Philadelphia police and school district safety officials to identify those involved in the attack.
Temple Police Deputy Chief Gaetano Sava told WPVI that the incident is "concerning. Whenever our residents, I mean, we're here for the safety of our residents and our students. So, when anybody is victimized, it's concerning to us. We take it very seriously."
Campus police said Temple and Philadelphia Police are enhancing patrols, and officials urge those with information about the incident to contact the PPD tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or Central Detectives at 215-686-3093. You also can contact Temple’s Investigations Unit at 215-204-6200 or Temple Police at 215-204-1234.
Keep these in mind as you contemplate the direction of the American government over the past 50 years and especially since the Obama election.
The Goals of Communism
(as read into the congressional record January 10, 1963, from "The Naked Communist" by Cleon Skousen)
1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.
5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.
6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.
7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.
8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.
9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.
10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.
11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)
12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.
13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.
14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.
15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.
16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.
17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.
18. Gain control of all student newspapers.
19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.
20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.
21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.
22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."
23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."
24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.
25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.
26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."
27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."
28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."
29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.
30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."
31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.
32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.
33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.
34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.
36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.
37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.
38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.
39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.
40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.
41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.
42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.
43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.
44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.
45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
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