Blumenthal Demands Trump U.S. Attorney Preserve Records

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), incoming Chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, in response to a baseless threat from the Department of Justice, today demanded the Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas preserve all records and correspondence, including with the White House or senior Department of Justice officials, related to the Administration’s efforts to protect corporate donors and Administration officials from legitimate oversight. “I am aware of your letter, posted to X today, which purports to initiate an investigation into me for conducting a congressional inquiry. This is just the latest in a series of unlawful actions on the part of the Trump Administration attempting to intimidate Members of Congress for engaging in constitutionally protected activity. Your implied threat of an investigation is baseless,” wrote Blumenthal. Blumenthal continued, “The public deserves to know the terms under which dozens of American companies were persuaded to donate millions of dollars to the President’s vanity projects, and whether lawsuits were dismissed, contracts were awarded, or regulations went unenforced in exchange for that money. The public deserves transparency about whether the White House and the corporations it cajoled extracted favors at the expense of American taxpayers. Not only are these appropriate subjects for congressional oversight, but such inquiries are among the constitutional duties that Members of Congress must undertake to become informed about matters on which legislation may be necessary.” “Since you appear to have evidence of the Trump Administration’s efforts to protect corporate donors and Administration officials from legitimate oversight, I accordingly direct you to preserve all records and correspondence, including all communications with the White House or senior officials at the Department of Justice, related to the decision to draft and post your letter,” Blumenthal concluded. Blumenthal has led an inquiry into the waste, fraud, and abuse associated with the White House ballroom and other projects throughout the nation’s capital. Blumenthal recently wrote to Big Tech companies and others who may be seeking pay-to-play government favors from their donations to President Trump’s White House ballroom and other projects, reminding recipients of the Subcommittee’s expectation for their prompt cooperation. The full text of today’s letter is available here and below. Dear Mr. Reitz: I am aware of your letter, posted to X today, which purports to initiate an investigation into me for conducting a congressional inquiry. This is just the latest in a series of unlawful actions on the part of the Trump Administration attempting to intimidate Members of Congress for engaging in constitutionally protected activity. Your implied threat of an investigation is baseless. As incoming Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I will not be intimidated. I will work on behalf of the American people to vigorously pursue investigations into this Administration’s misuse of taxpayer dollars and any corporate entity that has enabled its boundless corruption. The public deserves to know the terms under which dozens of American companies were persuaded to donate millions of dollars to the President’s vanity projects, and whether lawsuits were dismissed, contracts were awarded, or regulations went unenforced in exchange for that money. The public deserves transparency about whether the White House and the corporations it cajoled extracted favors at the expense of American taxpayers. Not only are these appropriate subjects for congressional oversight, but such inquiries are among the constitutional duties that Members of Congress must undertake to become informed about matters on which legislation may be necessary. Since you appear to have evidence of the Trump Administration’s efforts to protect corporate donors and Administration officials from legitimate oversight, I accordingly direct you to preserve all records and correspondence, including all communications with the White House or senior officials at the Department of Justice, related to the decision to draft and post your letter. Please confirm by no later than 6:00 p.m. on November 12, 2026, that you have received my letter and have taken steps to preserve the materials described above. -30-