U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz has asked Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to preserve records related to what Reitz described as an effort to infringe on citizens’ constitutional rights. Blumenthal responded by directing Reitz to retain records about the decision to send the letter.
In a letter dated Wednesday, Reitz accused Blumenthal of threatening people because of their associations with President Donald Trump and other public officials. He pointed to an October statement in which Blumenthal said he had sought information from people and company leaders reportedly involved in donations toward Trump’s planned White House ballroom.
Reitz called it improper for an elected official to intimidate people over charitable giving, arguing that Americans should be able to associate freely without facing what he characterized as aggressive government action.
He told Blumenthal to preserve documents, communications and electronically stored information related to an alleged effort to deny people their constitutional rights, citing federal statutes 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242. Reitz also asked him to retain evidence concerning efforts to restrict associations connected to philanthropic projects in the nation’s capital.
Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, responded in a letter dated Nov. 11. He said Reitz’s post appeared to launch an investigation into his congressional inquiry and described the implied threat as baseless. Blumenthal called it part of what he sees as a broader effort by the Trump administration to pressure lawmakers over constitutionally protected work.
Blumenthal said he would not be deterred and would continue investigating the administration’s use of taxpayer money and businesses he believes may have enabled corruption. He said the public should learn what conditions, if any, were attached to companies’ donations to Trump’s projects, and whether donors received benefits such as dismissed lawsuits, government contracts or lax regulatory enforcement.
He added that Congress has a duty to investigate matters that could inform future legislation, and said the public deserves to know whether the White House or companies sought favors at taxpayers’ expense.
In response to Reitz’s demand, Blumenthal directed him to preserve records and correspondence about the decision to prepare and publish the letter, including communications with the White House and senior Justice Department officials. Blumenthal said Reitz appeared to have information about efforts to shield corporate donors and administration officials from oversight.
The White House had not responded to a request for comment by Thursday.
