Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 10/9/2026-10/16/2026

Calling on Trump to Rescind Russian Diesel Deal [Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Alan Armstrong (R-OK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and John Cornyn (R-TX) wrote President Donald Trump urging him to rescind his recent agreement with President Vladimir Putin to allow Russian-origin diesel fuel into global markets. “Granting Moscow the ability to sell Russian diesel freely in global markets damages American security interests and is a betrayal of the people of Ukraine, who continue to defend themselves from Putin’s murderous, illegal war. This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies; it should be rescinded,” the senators wrote. The senators urged Trump to instead take swift action to implement sanctions authorized by the recently passed Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act , which President Trump signed into law in September. “These authorities require you to apply economic pressure on Russia and the chief enablers of its war, in particular China, and thereby enhance your negotiating position to bring a swift end to this ruinous conflict,” the senators wrote. The full text of the senators’ letter is available here . Blumenthal further urged Trump to rescind his disastrous diesel deal with Russia on Twitter/X. “I’m leading my colleagues in demanding the President rescind the disastrous Russian diesel deal. Appeasement spurs Putin to ignore serious peace talks, & the diesel debacle shows abject weakness. The first test for peace talks is whether Putin respects an energy infrastructure truce. Zelenskyy has agreed. Putin continues bombing. Once again, he’s playing Trump for a fool & hoping to weaponize a freezing, starving, bloody winter against Ukraine,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X . “I’m leading 12 of my colleagues demanding that Trump rescind the disastrous Russian diesel deal. It betrays American security interests & brave Ukrainians fighting Putin ’s bloody slaughter,” wrote Blumental with an accompanying video on Twitter/X . Blumenthal joined CNN to discuss his letter to Trump calling on him to rescind his diesel deal with Russia, urging U.S. support for Ukraine against Putin’s invasion. “The American people should know that we are, in effect, aiding Putin, who is supporting Iran with intelligence and fiber optic technology. Iran is killing our sons and daughters, or wants to destroy our bases and ships and other assets. Putin is an adversary supporting an enemy at war with us, and yet we are regarding him as more deserving of support,” said Blumenthal. “In effect, what Donald Trump is doing is a pressure campaign, a coercion against Ukraine, trying to force concessions. He wanted an energy ceasefire, Zelenskyy said yes, Putin continued bombing the Ukrainian infrastructure. So, what we are going to do is demand answers, as we did in that letter that I helped lead against the diesel deal, and the kind of investigation that ’s necessary to show the American people what the Pentagon is actually doing in aiding Putin.” The interview can be found here . Demanding FanDuel Fess Up About Targeting Problem Gamblers Blumenthal held a press conference in Hartford to demand betting platform FanDuel provide full videos and information about whether personalized celebrity messages were used to exploit vulnerable consumers and entice addicts to further gamble. “My message to FanDuel: fess up. Give us the videos that you’re using with personalized celebrity messages to addict gamblers and exploit their vulnerabilities,” said Blumenthal. Blumenthal further highlighted his demands for answers from FanDuel on Twitter/X. “FanDuel needs to fess up—provide the personalized celebrity videos it ’s using to target & exploit problem gamblers. I’m demanding facts about its predatory practices,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X . In August, Blumenthal originally wrote to FanDuel after reports that the sportsbook used a personal video message from Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper to target an individual suffering from gambling addiction. Blumenthal wrote again in September, after FanDuel failed to substantively address this Congressional inquiry. In their follow up response, FanDuel claimed the videos of celebrities and other VIPs were a token of appreciation for customers, however this contradicts reports that a bettor who’d lost $1.5 million on the platform was sent a video seemingly encouraging them to continue placing bets. In a new letter, Blumenthal demands the sportsbook provide copies of each personalized video as well as information about whether the videos were sent to problem gamblers. “While FanDuel claimed it ‘has not used personalized videos or messages to induce customers to continue gambling,’ that statement is clearly contradicted by the fact that the video of Mr. Harper that gave rise to these concerns was sent to an individual that had lost $1.5 million on bets on your platform,” wrote Blumenthal. Blumenthal continued, “ In addition, FanDuel claims to monitor a range of behaviors through ‘automated and manual proactive reviews to identify players who may be experiencing gambling harm,’ yet does not provide a full picture of how it uses this information, including whether that same data is used to target bettors with such predatory promotions.” Blumenthal’s August letter can be found here , his September letter can be found here , and his most recent letter can be found here . Blumenthal leads several efforts to address the growing issue of sports betting and prediction markets, including the GAME Act, legislation that would prohibit social media companies and other advertising websites from targeting minors with sports betting advertisements online and includes criminal penalties enforced by the Department of Justice, the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act , which would establish nationwide standards and safeguards for the mobile sports gambling industry, the Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment and Treatment (GRIT) Act , which would dedicate a portion of federal sports betting revenue to addiction treatment, prevention, and research, and the Prediction Markets Security and Integrity Act, which prevents abuse and fraud in prediction markets. Combatting Deadly Domestic Violence with Bill Keeping Guns Away from Abusers Blumenthal announced the introduction of the Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act, which would restrict those under temporary restraining orders from purchasing or possessing a firearm and extends protections to domestic violence survivors who have been abused by their dating partners. The bill is named in memory of Lori Jackson, a Connecticut mother who was tragically shot and killed by her estranged husband who had legally obtained a handgun even though he was subject to a temporary restraining order, and Nicolette Elias, an Oregon mother who, despite securing restraining orders and temporary stalking orders against her estranged and abusive ex-husband, was murdered by her former spouse in front of their children with a handgun that he refused to relinquish. “Guns make domestic violence lethal. This loophole must be closed. Temporary protective orders must prohibit purchase or possessions of a gun. Prohibiting anyone under a protective order from possessing or purchasing a gun can help save lives, literally. I’ve introduced this measure, the Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act. I’m hoping it will have bipartisan support because domestic violence should be a bipartisan issue. This measure will close a loophole, prohibit anybody under a protective order, whether it is temporary or permanent, from possessing or purchasing a gun,” said Blumenthal at the press conference. Blumenthal further highlighted the need for his legislation to protect survivors of domestic abuse and keep guns away from abusers on Twitter/X. “Domestic violence becomes all the more lethal with the possession of a firearm. We must pass the Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act—it's a matter of life & death,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X . The full text of the Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act can be found here . Holding Animal Abusers Accountable Blumenthal joined the Connecticut Humane Society to announce the introduction of the Puppy Protection Act , legislation to create stronger standards for veterinary care, housing and breeding for dogs. The bill would require larger enclosures, unrestricted access to exercise, socialization and more routine veterinary care for dogs in the care of a breeder. Blumenthal also discussed his Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement (CARE) for Animals Act , which he introduced last year. The bill would improve the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) ability to enforce the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) by clarifying that the DOJ has the authority to bring cases under the AWA like the U.S. Department of Agriculture does. It also gives DOJ additional enforcement remedies, including the ability to seek license suspensions and revocations, civil penalties, and forfeiture authority to seize and remove animals experiencing harmful treatment. “We face an animal abuse crisis here in the state of Connecticut. The numbers of animal abuse cases have jumped 37 percent—which means we need federal legislation. I’ve proposed it, and it the legislation whose time has come,” said Blumenthal. “Thank you to the Connecticut Humane Society for all the great work you are doing, saving lives of creatures that are entrusted to us human beings.” Blumenthal further emphasized the need for his legislation to bolster animal welfare on Twitter/X. “Action is imperative against animal abuse—as CT cases increase by 37 percent this year. My bipartisan legislation would provide stronger enforcement & better protection. Thank you CT Humane Society for priceless care & advocacy,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X . Blumenthal Bulletin Blumenthal released a statement on Trump’s continued attacks on offshore wind. Blumenthal demanded answers from VA Secretary Collins on the skyrocketing costs of Oracle's VA electronic health record contract. Blumenthal called for home heating assistance with increased LIHEAP aid. Blumenthal slammed concealed contributions behind Trump’s ballroom. Blumenthal slammed efforts to ban books in America. -30-