Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday he received a letter from a U.S. attorney informing him he’s being investigated for conducting a congressional inquiry.
Blumenthal, who is set to chair the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations when the Democratic majority takes control of the Senate next year, said the implied investigation is baseless.
In his own letter to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Aaron Reitz, Blumenthal said the public has a right to know under what circumstances corporations donated millions of dollars to projects Trump supports. He 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.
A message seeking comment from Reitz’s office was sent Thursday.
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The development comes days after Attorney General Todd Blanche said Democrats could not “go around threatening” companies and the administration with investigations.
It shows once again how “this administration has repeatedly undermined the free market economy,” said Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is on track to become the House speaker when the new Congress convenes in January.
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“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.
