Sen. Richard Blumenthal says federal prosecutor opened inquiry into his congressional investigation

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, said Thursday that he received a letter from the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas indicating that he is under investigation for conducting a congressional inquiry. Blumenthal, who will chair the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations when the Democratic majority assumes control of the Senate next year, described the alleged probe as baseless. In his response to U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz, the senator said the public deserves to know how corporations donated millions to projects supported by Donald Trump and asked that records and correspondence with the White House and senior Justice Department officials be preserved.

"I will not be intimidated," Blumenthal wrote.

The senator's office has not yet commented on the matter. The issue follows remarks by Attorney General Todd Blanche that Democrats should not threaten companies or the administration with investigations. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the episode illustrates how "this administration has repeatedly undermined the free market economy" and added that it reflects Donald Trump’s focus on corporate interests rather than working-class concerns.