Auringer Calls on Pat Ryan to Suspend Use of ActBlue and Audit Donations After CEO Pleads the Fifth

KINGSTON, NY - June 11, 2026 — Jackie Auringer, Republican candidate for Congress in New York's 18th Congressional District, today called on Congressman Pat Ryan to immediately suspend use of ActBlue and conduct a full audit of all donations processed through the platform after ActBlue's CEO pleaded the Fifth Amendment before Congress during an investigation into allegations involving illegal foreign donations.

According to published reports, ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones declined to answer questions before the House Administration Committee as lawmakers investigate whether the Democratic fundraising platform allowed illegal foreign donations to flow through its system.

The concerns are not new. ActBlue's own attorneys had raised concerns that the platform could face legal risk over statements made to Congress about how it vetted foreign donations.

ActBlue raised $568 million in the first quarter of 2026 alone, including $391 million for federal candidates. If Pat Ryan is still raising money through a platform under investigation for illegal foreign donations, Hudson Valley voters deserve to know why.

"Pat Ryan has a responsibility to act," Auringer said. "He is raising money through a platform under investigation for illegal foreign donations. Ryan should suspend ActBlue today, audit every dollar his campaign received through it, and return any money that cannot be verified as legal. Hudson Valley voters deserve clean elections and clear answers."

Auringer said Hudson Valley voters deserve transparency, not excuses.

"Families across the Hudson Valley follow the rules," Auringer said. "Campaigns should too. This is very simple: Will Pat Ryan suspend his use of ActBlue while this investigation is underway? Will he audit hundreds of thousands in donations? And will he return any suspicious or illegal contributions? Yes or no."

Auringer said the issue goes directly to public trust.

"Pat Ryan talks a lot about democracy, but democracy starts with clean elections and legal donations," Auringer said. "He should stop hiding behind Washington talking points and prove to voters that every dollar supporting his campaign came from a legal American donor."

Auringer called on Ryan to take three immediate steps:

1. Suspend use of ActBlue while the investigation is ongoing;
2. Conduct a full audit of all ActBlue donations to his campaign; and
3. Return any contribution that cannot be verified as legal.

"Pat Ryan owes the Hudson Valley answers," Auringer said. "Not speeches. Not slogans. Answers."