Blumenthal calls the probe baseless and directs the prosecutor to preserve records
Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Thursday that he received a letter from U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz informing him he is being investigated for conducting a congressional inquiry.
The Connecticut Democrat called the implied investigation baseless. Blumenthal is set to chair the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations when the Democratic majority takes control of the Senate next year.
In a letter of his own to Reitz, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Blumenthal said the public has a right to know under what circumstances corporations donated millions of dollars to projects Trump supports.
Blumenthal directed Reitz to preserve records and correspondence with the White House and senior Justice Department officials related to Reitz’s letter. “I will not be intimidated,” the senator wrote.
The Associated Press reported that a message seeking comment from Reitz’s office was sent Thursday.
The development comes days after Attorney General Todd Blanche said Democrats could not “go around threatening” companies and the administration with investigations.
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the development shows once again how “this administration has repeatedly undermined the free market economy.”
“This is just another example of Donald Trump weighing in on behalf of his views connected to corporate America, as opposed to focusing on working class America,” Jeffries said. Jeffries is on track to become the House speaker when the new Congress convenes in January.
The exchange pairs a senator’s inquiry into corporate donations with a federal prosecutor’s letter informing that senator he is under investigation. Democrats take majority control of the Senate next year, and the new Congress convenes in January with Jeffries on track to become House speaker.