A Texas federal prosecutor ordered Sen. Richard Blumenthal to save his records, saying the senator’s letters to donors behind President Trump’s White House ballroom were an attempt to intimidate private citizens.
Story Highlights
- On Wednesday, November 11, U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz sent Sen. Blumenthal a letter ordering him and his staff to preserve all records tied to his ballroom donor inquiry.
- Reitz says Blumenthal has “threatened citizens for associating themselves with the president,” and his letter points to two federal civil rights laws.
- Blumenthal’s letters asked donors who solicited their gifts, whether amounts were suggested, whether they were offered anonymity, and what contacts they had with the White House or federal agencies.
- Blumenthal answered: “I will not be intimidated.” He has until 6 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, November 18, to confirm he is saving the records.
Why The Prosecutor Stepped In
Aaron Reitz is the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, the top federal prosecutor for that part of the state. He says Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, has used congressional letters to pressure private Americans who gave money to the White House ballroom. “In recent weeks, you have threatened citizens for associating themselves with the president and other public officials,” Reitz wrote. “It is also extraordinary for an elected official to intimidate citizens.”
Blumenthal rejects that charge. He has called his inquiry appropriate oversight and part of his constitutional duties. “I will work on behalf of the American people to vigorously pursue investigations,” he said, adding that “the public deserves to know the terms under which dozens of American companies were persuaded” to give.
What Reitz’s Letter Demands
Reitz ordered Blumenthal to preserve all documents, communications and electronic records tied to his donor inquiry. The order covers his staff, employees, agents, consultants, campaign personnel and anyone acting for him. A preservation letter like this is a formal notice to keep records that could become evidence; it is not a charge or a subpoena.
The letter cites two federal laws, 18 U.S.C. 241 and 242. The first makes it a crime to conspire to violate someone’s constitutional rights. The second makes it a crime for someone acting with government power to take away a person’s rights. Reitz wrote that the records relate to efforts to “deprive citizens of their core constitutional rights” and warned of “significant legal consequences.” According to reports, the letter says failing to keep the records “may result in sanctions, adverse-inference instructions or other penalties.” Reitz also posted on X: “Congress is not a weapon to be wielded against the American people.”
What Blumenthal’s Letters Asked Donors
Blumenthal is the top Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, a panel that looks into waste and wrongdoing in government. He has written to ballroom donors since 2025. In October he wrote to more than a dozen donors who had not been named before, after reports listed the people, companies and foundations behind about $330 million in private money for the project.
His letters asked each donor to name who asked for the money, say whether a specific amount was suggested, say whether they were offered anonymity, share any formal agreements and list their contacts with the White House or federal agencies. He has said he wants to know whether donors received favorable government treatment, such as contracts or regulatory decisions, in return.
A Bigger Fight Over Oversight
The clash pits Congress’s power to investigate against the right of private citizens to give and associate freely. The Supreme Court has held that forcing the disclosure of donors can chill free association, while Congress has broad power to gather facts for its work.
Reitz’s letter follows one from White House counsel Will Scharf to Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, warning that some Democratic investigations could amount to criminal conduct. Garcia answered that the White House was threatening congressional oversight. Both letters come after Democrats won control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections, which gives their committees more power to investigate.
What Happens Next
Blumenthal has until 6 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, November 18, to confirm in writing that he has received the letter and taken steps to save the records. No charge has been filed against him, and no court has ruled on Reitz’s claims. Blumenthal has said he will keep pressing the donors for answers.
Sources:
nbcnews.com, thehill.com, upi.com, thegatewaypundit.com, democracydocket.com, blumenthal.senate.gov
