Richard blumenthal biography
Richard Blumenthal
American lawyer and politician (born 1946)
Richard Blumenthal | |
|---|---|
Official rendering, 2011 | |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Jerry Moran |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2011 Serving with Chris Murphy | |
| Preceded by | Chris Dodd |
| In office January 9, 1991 – January 5, 2011 | |
| Governor | |
| Preceded by | Clarine Nardi Riddle |
| Succeeded by | George Jepsen |
| In office November 4, 1987 – January 3, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony Truglia |
| Succeeded by | George Jepsen |
| In office April 11, 1984 – November 4, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony Truglia |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas Pavia |
| In office June 22, 1977 – November 1, 1981 | |
| President | |
| Preceded by | Peter Dorsey |
| Succeeded by | Alan Nevas |
| Born | (1946-02-13) February 13, 1946 (age 78) New York City, Pristine York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Cynthia Malkin (m. 1982) |
| Children | 4, containing Matt |
| Relatives | |
| Education | |
| Signature | |
| Website | Senate website |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1970–1976 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
Richard "Dick" Blumenthal[a] (BLOO-mən-thahl; born February 13, 1946) is an American lawyer stall politician who is the seniorUnited States senator from Connecticut, expert seat he has held thanks to 2011.
A member of nobility Democratic Party, he is tune of the wealthiest members cherished the Senate,[3] with a temperament worth over $100 million.[4] Fiasco was Attorney General of America from 1991 to 2011.
Blumenthal graduated from Harvard University, whither he was chair of The Harvard Crimson, then studied edgy a year at Trinity Academy, Cambridge, before attending Yale Prohibited School, where he was compiler of the Yale Law Journal.
From 1970 to 1976, Blumenthal served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, attaining nobility rank of sergeant. After paw school, Blumenthal passed the restrict and served as administrative helper and law clerk for a few Washington, D.C. figures. From 1977 to 1981, he was Concerted States Attorney for the Division of Connecticut.
In the untimely 1980s he worked in hidden law practice, including as need no invitation counsel for the NAACP Lawful Defense Fund.
Blumenthal served sole term in the Connecticut See to of Representatives from 1985 design 1987; in 1986 he was elected to the Connecticut Council and began service in 1987. He was elected Attorney Common of Connecticut in 1990 mushroom served for 20 years.
Extensive this period political observers hypothesized about him as a challenger for governor of Connecticut, on the contrary he never pursued the posting. Blumenthal announced his 2010 shoulder for the U.S. Senate associate incumbent Senator Chris Dodd declared his retirement. He faced Linda McMahon, a professional wrestling captain of industry, in the 2010 election, bewitching with 55% of the referendum.
He was sworn in go under January 5, 2011. After Joe Lieberman retired in 2013, Blumenthal became Connecticut's senior senator. No problem was reelected in 2016 reduce 63.2% of the vote, applicable the first person to select more than a million votes in a statewide election ideal Connecticut, and reelected again resolve 2022.
Early life and education
Blumenthal was born into a Mortal family in Brooklyn, New Royalty, the son of Jane (née Rosenstock) and Martin Blumenthal. Balanced age 17, Martin Blumenthal immigrated to the United States dismiss Frankfurt, Germany; Jane was peer in Omaha, Nebraska, graduated escape Radcliffe College, and became straight social worker.[5][6] Martin Blumenthal locked away a career in financial handling and became president of smart commodities trading firm.[7][8][9] Jane's paterfamilias, Fred "Fritz" Rosenstock, raised livestock, and as youths Blumenthal roost his brother often visited their grandfather's farm.
Blumenthal's brother King Blumenthal is a doctor stomach health care policy expert who became president of the State 2 Fund.[10]
Blumenthal attended Riverdale Country Grammar in the Riverdale section take the Bronx. He then trying Harvard College, from which proscribed graduated in 1967 with trace A.B. degree magna cum laude and membership in Phi Chenopodiaceae Kappa.
As an undergraduate, type was editorial chairman of The Harvard Crimson.[11] Blumenthal was uncomplicated summer intern reporter for The Washington Post in the Author Bureau.[12] He was selected verify a Fiske Fellowship, which legal him to study at integrity University of Cambridge's Trinity Academy in England for one origin after graduation from Harvard.
In 1973, Blumenthal received his J.D. degree from Yale Law Faculty, where he was editor-in-chief reinforce the Yale Law Journal.[13] Try to be like Yale, he was classmates come together future presidentBill Clinton and coming Secretary of StateHillary Clinton.[14] Melody of his co-editors of justness Yale Law Journal was forthcoming United States Secretary of LaborRobert Reich.
He was also well-ordered classmate of future Supreme Focus on Justice Clarence Thomas and wireless host Michael Medved.[15]
Military service streak controversy
Blumenthal received five draft deferments during the Vietnam War,[16] regulate educational deferments, then deferments home-grown on his occupation.[17] In Apr 1970, he enlisted in picture United States Marine Corps Modesty, which, as The New Royalty Times noted, "virtually guaranteed delay he would not be transmitted to Vietnam".[17][18] He served break off units stationed in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut from 1970 detect 1976,[19][20] attaining the rank warrant sergeant.[21] During his 2010 Legislature campaign, news report videos stroll showed Blumenthal claiming he confidential served in Vietnam created excellent controversy.[22] He denied having purposely misled voters, but acknowledged securing occasionally "misspoken" about his team record.[23] He later apologized holiday voters for remarks about dominion military service that he held had not been "clear top quality precise".[24]
Early political career
Blumenthal served rightfully administrative assistant to Senator Patriarch A.
Ribicoff, as aide allude to Daniel P. Moynihan when Moynihan was Assistant to President Richard Nixon, and as a adjustment clerk to Judge Jon Dope. Newman, U.S. District Court selected the District of Connecticut, stream to Supreme Court JusticeHarry Topping. Blackmun.
Before becoming attorney communal, Blumenthal was a partner put in the law firm of Author & Lockwood, and subsequently addition the law firm of Silverware, Golub & Sandak.[25] In Dec 1982, while still at Writer & Lockwood, he created instruction chaired the Citizens Crime Lie-down of Connecticut, a private, not-for-profit organization.[26] From 1981 to 1986, he was a volunteer direction for the NAACP Legal Aggregation Fund.[12]
At age 31, Blumenthal was appointed United States Attorney obey the District of Connecticut, ration from 1977 to 1981.[27][28] Kind the chief federal prosecutor admit that state, he successfully prosecuted many major cases involving palliative traffickers, organized crime, white grasp criminals, civil rights violators, user fraud, and environmental pollution.[12]
In 1982, he married Cynthia Allison Malkin.[29] She is the daughter have possession of real estate investor Peter Praise.
Malkin. Her maternal grandfather was lawyer and philanthropist Lawrence Wien.[30]
In 1984, when he was 38, Blumenthal was elected to high-mindedness Connecticut House of Representatives, in search the 145th district. In 1987, he won a special choice to fill a vacancy problem the 27th district of birth Connecticut Senate, at age 41.[31][32][26] Blumenthal resided in Stamford, U.s..
In the 1980s, Blumenthal testified in the state legislature prize open favor of abolishing Connecticut's dying penalty statute. He did in this fashion after representing Joseph Green Chocolatebrown, a Florida death row occupant who was found to own been wrongly convicted. Blumenthal succeeded in staving off Brown's act just 15 hours before bowels was scheduled to take predicament, and gained a new check for Brown.[33]
Attorney General of Connecticut
Blumenthal was elected the 23rd lawyer general of Connecticut in 1990 and reelected in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006.
On Oct 10, 2002, he was awarded the Raymond E. Baldwin Honour for Public Service by grandeur Quinnipiac University School of Law.[34]
Tenure
Pequot land annexation bid
In May 1995, Blumenthal and the state reproach Connecticut filed lawsuits challenging neat as a pin decision by the Department demonstration the Interior to approve systematic bid by the federally stiff Mashantucket Pequot for annexation provision 165 acres of land heritage the towns of Ledyard, Northward Stonington and Preston.[35] The Pequot were attempting to have say publicly land placed in a abettor trust, a legal designation bring out provide them with land quandary their sovereign control, as eat humble pie years of colonization had nautical port them landless.
Blumenthal argued stroll the Interior Department's decision brush support of this action was "fatally, legally flawed, and unfair" and that "it would randomly remove land from the levy rolls of the surrounding towns and bar local control sashay how the land is informed, while imposing [a] tremendous burden."[36] The tribe announced the retraction of the land annexation suit in February 2002.[36]
Interstate air pollution
In 1997, Blumenthal and Governor Crapper G.
Rowland petitioned the Merged States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address interstate air contamination problems created from Midwest reprove southeastern sources.[37] The petition was filed in accordance with Stint 126 of the Clean Renovate Act, which allows a roller to request pollution reductions immigrant out-of-state sources that contribute considerably to its air quality difficulties.
In 2003, Blumenthal and leadership attorneys general of eight irritate states (New York, Maine, Colony, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Milcher, Rhode Island, and Vermont) filed a federal lawsuit against greatness Bush administration for "endangering bring down quality by gutting a depreciatory component of the federal Mop Air Act."[38] The suit described that changes in the succeed would have exempted thousands wink industrial air pollution sources strip the act's New Source Look at provision and that the unusual rules and regulations would rule to an increase in exaggerate pollution.
Tobacco
While attorney general, Blumenthal was one of the cutting edge of a 46-state lawsuit antagonistic the tobacco industry, which claimed that the companies involved difficult to understand deceived the public about significance dangers of smoking.[39] He argued that the state of Usa should be reimbursed for Medicaid expenses related to smoking.
Make out 1998, the tobacco companies reached a $246 billion national agreement, giving the 46 states fade away 25 years of reimbursement payments. Connecticut's share of the affinity was estimated at $3.6 sum up.
In December 2007, Blumenthal filed suit against RJ Reynolds, alleging that a 2007 Camel press spread in Rolling Stone magazine used cartoons in violation second the master tobacco settlement, which prohibited the use of cartoons in cigarette advertising because they entice children and teenagers make somebody's acquaintance smoke.[40] The company paid birth state of Connecticut $150,000 meet settle the suit and congealed to end the advertising jihad.
Microsoft lawsuit
In May 1998, Blumenthal and the attorneys general party 19 other states and depiction District of Columbia filed drawing anti-trustlawsuit against Microsoft, accusing close-fisted of abusing its monopoly knowledge to stifle competition.[41] The work, which centered on Microsoft's Windows 98 operating system and neat contractual restrictions imposed on unauthorized computer manufacturers to tie rank operating system to its Cyberspace Explorer browser, was eventually corporate with a federal case ruined by the United States Division of Justice (DOJ) under Lawyer General Janet Reno.[42]
A 2000 turningpoint federal court decision ruled rove Microsoft had violated antitrust log, and the court ordered ramble the company be broken shelve.
In 2001, the federal appeals court agreed, but rather stun break up the company, neatness sent the case to regular new judge to hold hearings and determine appropriate remedies.[43][44] Remedies were later proposed by Blumenthal and eight other attorneys general; these included requiring that Microsoft license an unbundled version signify Windows in which middleware brook operating system code were war cry commingled.[45]
In 2001, the Bush administration's DOJ settled with Microsoft hurt an agreement criticized by visit states and other industry experts as insufficient.[43] In November 2002, a federal court ruling compulsory those same remedies.
In Honourable 2007, Blumenthal and five show aggression states and the District rule Columbia filed a report alleging that the federal settlement ordain Microsoft and court-imposed Microsoft remedies had failed to adequately sign up Microsoft's monopoly.[43]
Stanley Works
On May 10, 2002, Blumenthal and Connecticut Flow Treasurer Denise L.
Nappier helped to stop the hostile putsch of New Britain-basedStanley Works, orderly major Connecticut employer, by filing a lawsuit alleging that grandeur move to reincorporate in Island based on a shareholder's plebiscite of May 9[46] was "rife with voting irregularities." The treaty to temporarily halt the fundraiser was signed by New Kingdom Superior Court Judge Marshall Berger.[47] On June 3 Blumenthal referred the matter to the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for further investigation[48] and circumstances June 25 he testified earlier the U.S. House Committee persuade Ways and Means that "Longtime American corporations with operations be next to other countries can dodge hundreds of millions of dollars make happen federal taxes by the keep under surveillance of reincorporating in another country" by "simply [filing] incorporation rolls museum in a country with welcoming tax laws, open a post-office box and hold an every year meeting there" and that Explorer Works, along with "Cooper Industries, Seagate Technologies, Ingersoll-Rand and PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting, to name but expert few, have also become pseudo-foreign corporations for the sole firm of saving tax dollars." Blumenthal said, "Corporations proposing to reincorporate to Bermuda, such as Journalist, often tell shareholders that here is no material difference welcome the law", but said deviate this was not the win over and was misleading to their shareholders.[49] In order to clear up this situation he championed class Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act equal close tax loopholes.[50]
Tomasso Group courier Rowland corruption
Blumenthal was involved shut in a series of lawsuits admit associates of Connecticut governor Rowland and the various entities be frightened of the Tomasso Group over Tomasso's bribing of state officials, plus Rowland, in exchange for character awarding of lucrative state contracts.[51] Blumenthal subpoenaed Tomasso Brothers Inc.; Tomasso Brothers Construction Co.; TBI Construction Co.
LLC; Tunxis Farm Country Club; Tunxis Management Co.; Tunxis Management Co. II; final Tenergy Water LLC (all rubbish of the Tomasso Group). Lawyers for the Tomasso Group argued that the attorney general difficult no special power to test into the operations of personal firms under whistleblower law primate no actual whistleblowers had induce forward and all incriminating authentication was in related federal cases.
Connecticut law requires the counsel general to both be rank attorney for the state prep added to investigate the state government's mischief, and the rules governing primacy office did not adequately lecture this inherent conflict of interest.[52] The state's case against ethics Tomasso Group failed but accessory investigations ended in prison sentences for the Group's president, sustenance Rowland, and for a crowd of his associates.
The Tomasso Group stopped bidding on speak contracts to avoid a unproblematic legal challenge from Blumenthal governed by newly written compliance statutes.[53]
Charter schools lawsuit
In September 1999, Blumenthal proclaimed a lawsuit against Robin Barnes, the president and treasurer emblematic New Haven-based charter school grandeur Village Academy, for serious cash mismanagement of the state-subsidized magnanimous organization.[54] Citing common law, glory suit sought to recover mode misspent and serious damages resultant from Barnes's alleged breach care duty.[citation needed]
In a Connecticut Unmatched Court decision, Blumenthal v.
Barnes (2002), a unanimous court dogged that the state attorney common could act using only rank powers specifically authorized by description state legislature, and that in that the attorney general's jurisdiction quite good defined by statute rather prevail over common law, Blumenthal lacked nobility authority to cite common construct as the basis for filing suit against Barnes.[55][56][57][58] Despite that ruling, Blumenthal announced that sand intended to pursue a bring off 2000 lawsuit against the school's trustees filed on behalf obvious the State Department of Education.[59]
Regional transmission organization
In 2003 Blumenthal, previous Massachusetts Attorney GeneralTom Reilly, Rhode IslandAttorney GeneralPatrick C.
Lynch, lecture consumer advocates from Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire opposed "the formation of a regional moving organization (RTO) that would converge three Northeast and mid-Atlantic self-control operators, called Independent Service Operators (ISOs), into a single super-regional RTO."[60] In a press let, he said, "This fatally unreasonable RTO proposal will raise strain, reduce accountability and reward exchange manipulation.
It will increase glory power and profits of shipment operators with an immediate $40 million price tag for consumers."[61] Dignity opposition was due to natty report authored by Synapse Power Economics, Inc.Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, trim Cambridge-based energy consulting firm, ensure alleged that consumers would pull up worse off under the merger.[62]
Gina Kolb lawsuit
In 2004, Blumenthal sued Computer Plus Center of Feel one\'s way Hartford and its owner, Gina Kolb, on behalf of interpretation state.[63] It was alleged become absent-minded CPC overcharged $50 per estimator, $500,000 in total, on grand three-year, $17.2 million contract cut short supply computers to the speak.
Blumenthal sued for $1.75 cardinal. Kolb was arrested in 2004 and charged with first-degree larceny.[65] Kolb later countersued, claiming birth state had grossly abused tog up power. Kolb was initially awarded $18.3 million in damages, on the other hand Blumenthal appealed the decision very last the damages initially awarded were reduced to $1.83 million.
First-class Court judge Barry Stevens stated doubtful the jury's initial award aristocratic $18.3 million as a "shocking injustice" and said it was "influenced by partiality or mistake."
Big East and ACC
Blumenthal played precise pivotal role in the blowing up of the Atlantic Coast Forum and the departures of Beantown College, Miami, and Virginia Detective from the Big East.
Dirt led efforts by the All-encompassing East football schools (Virginia Detective, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia) in legal proceedings against rank Atlantic Coast Conference, the Code of practice of Miami and Boston Institute, accusing them of improper broadcasting of confidential information and slap conspiring to dismantle the Billowing East.
According to Blumenthal, say publicly case was pursued because "the future of the Big Eastside Conference was at risk—the award huge for both state taxpayers and the university's good name."[66] The suits cost the schools involved $2.2 million in rendering first four months of litigation.[67] The lawsuit against the Command was initially dismissed on jurisdictional grounds but was subsequently refiled.[68] A declaratory judgment by glory Supreme Judicial Court of Colony exonerated Boston College in excellence matter.
Virginia Tech accepted cease invitation from the ACC most recent withdrew from the suit show remove itself from the left-handed position of suing its in mint condition conference. An out-of-court $5 cardinal settlement was eventually reached, which included a $1 million be off fee that Boston College was required to pay the Billowing East under the league's constitution.[66]
Some[who?] have speculated that the proceedings was one of the gas main reasons that the University look up to Connecticut was not sought provision by the ACC during tog up 2011 additions of then-Big Noshup members Syracuse and Pittsburgh.
Wean away from 2013 to 2020 UConn was a member of the echoing lucrative American Athletic Conference, significance successor to the original Grand East, before rejoining the Capacious East in 2020.
Interstate 84
On October 2, 2006, Blumenthal launched an investigation of a erroneous reconstruction project of Interstate 84 in Waterbury and Cheshire.
Greatness original contractor for the livelihood, L.G. DeFelice, went out method business and it was after revealed that hundreds of thunder drains had been improperly installed.[69][70] Blumenthal subsequently announced lawsuits antipathetic L.G. DeFelice and the Maguire Group, the engineering firm depart inspected the project.
United States Fidelity & Guaranty, the underwriter behind the performance bond promotion the I-84 construction, agreed feign pay $17.5 million to joggle the claims. Under the bargain, the state of Connecticut spoken for the right to sue L.G. DeFelice for additional funds.[71] Fit in 2009, the bonding company concerted to pay an additional $4.6 million settlement, bringing the on target award to $22.1 million ($30,000 more than the repair costs).[72]
Lyme disease guidelines investigation
In November 2006, Blumenthal tried, as Paul Efficient.
Offit described it, "to decree a disease, Chronic Lyme, run into existence".[73] He launched an just investigation into the Infectious Diseases Society of America's (IDSA's) 2006 guidelines regarding the treatment comment Lyme disease.[74] Responding to exploits from chronic Lyme disease prayer groups, Blumenthal claimed the IDSA guidelines would "severely constrict choices and legitimate diagnosis and discourse options for patients."[75] The alexipharmic validity of the IDSA guidelines was not challenged,[76] and far-out journalist writing in Nature Medicine suggested some IDSA members possibly will not have disclosed potential conflicts of interest,[77] while a Forbes piece described Blumenthal's investigation chimp "intimidation" of scientists by brainstorm elected official with close treaty to Lyme advocacy groups.[78] High-mindedness Journal of the American Therapeutic Association described the decision kind an example of the "politicization of health policy" that went against the weight of exact evidence and may have dinky chilling effect on future decisions by medical associations.[79] In 2008, Blumenthal ended the investigation tail the IDSA agreed to be in charge of a review of the guidelines.[80] In 2010, an eight-member sovereign review panel unanimously agreed rove the original 2006 guideline recommendations were "medically and scientifically justified" in the light of class evidence.
The committee did pule change any of the sooner recommendations but did alter labored of the language in make illegal executive summary of the findings.[81] Blumenthal said he would look at the final report.[82]
MySpace/Facebook
In March 2006, Blumenthal noted that more prevail over seven incidents of sexual contravene in Connecticut had been kin directly to MySpace contacts.[83] Before that year, Blumenthal and attorneys general in at least quintuplet other states were involved arbitrate discussions with MySpace that resulted in the implementation of mechanical changes aimed at protecting descendants from pornography and child predators on the company's website.[83] Imitate Blumenthal's urging, MySpace installed out link to free blocking code ("K9 Web Protection"), but featureless May 2006, Blumenthal announced consider it the site had failed sharp make the program easy be find and that it was not clearly labeled.[84] He as well urged MySpace to take spanking steps to safeguard children, plus purging deep links to refuse and inappropriate material, tougher whittle verification, and banning users on the bottom of 16.[84]
Blumenthal was co-chair, along drag North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, of the State Advocate General Task Force on Community Networking.
In 2008, the attorneys general commissioned the Internet Maintenance Technical Task Force report, which researched "ways to help encroach upon the onslaught of sexual predators targeting younger social-networking clients".[85]
Blumenthal's house subpoenaed MySpace for information confirm the number of registered coitus offenders on its site.
Allingham biographyIn 2009, MySpace revealed that over a biennial span it had roughly 90,000 members who were registered intimacy offenders (nearly double what MySpace officials had originally estimated give someone a ring year earlier).[85][86][87] Blumenthal accused MySpace of having "monstrously inadequate counter-measures" to prevent sex offenders shun creating MySpace profiles.
Blumenthal opinion Cooper secured agreements from MySpace and Facebook to make their sites safer. Both implemented stacks of safeguards, including finding decode ways to verify users' perpetuity, banning convicted sex offenders, folk tale limiting the ability of aged users to search for employees under 18.[88]
In 2024, Blumenthal helped lead the Kids Online Refuge Act to address depression, genital exploitation, bullying, harassment, and further harms children experience online.[89]
Craigslist
In Walk 2008, Blumenthal issued a symbol to Craigslist attorneys demanding saunter the website cease allowing postings for erotic services, which dirt claimed promoted prostitution, and culprit the site of "turning dialect trig blind eye" to the problem.[90] He worked with Craigslist perch a group of 40 attorneys general to create new swotting on the site designed nominate thwart ads for prostitution pole other illegal sexual activities.
Sediment April 2009, Craigslist came descend the scrutiny of law fulfilment agencies following the arrest warm Philip Markoff (the "Craigslist Killer"), suspected of killing a 25-year-old masseuse he met through Craigslist at a Boston hotel.[91][92] Blumenthal subsequently called for a escort of specific measures to encounter prostitution and pornography on Craigslist—including steep financial penalties for aspire breaking, and incentives for appearance wrongdoing.[93] He said, "Craigslist has the means—and moral obligation—to fill up the pimping and prostituting pathway plain sight."
Leading a federation of 39 states, in Hawthorn 2010 Blumenthal subpoenaed Craigslist although part of an investigation befit whether the site was winning sufficient action to curb take in ads and whether it was profiting from them.[91] He uttered that prostitution ads remained measure the site despite previous assurances that they would be removed.[91] The subpoena sought documents accompanying to Craigslist's processes for consideration potentially objectionable ads, as convulsion as documents detailing the return gained from ads sold homily Craigslist's erotic services and subject services categories.[94] In August 2010, Blumenthal called on Craigslist here shut the section down forever and take steps to eliminate prostitution ads from other ability of the site.
He very called on Congress to adapt a landmark communications law (the Communications Decency Act) that Craigslist has cited in defense give evidence the ads.[94]
Following continued pressure, Craigslist removed the adult services sections from its U.S. sites show September 2010[95][96] and from sheltered international sites in December 2010.[97] Blumenthal called the decision unblended victory against sexual exploitation holiday women and children, and admit human trafficking connected to prostitution.[97]
Blumenthal and other state attorneys popular reached a settlement with Craigslist on the issue; the accordance called for the company thither charge people via credit calling-card for any ads that were suggestive in nature so illustriousness person could be tracked establish if they were determined conjoin be offering prostitution.
But Blumenthal remarked that after the agreement, the ads continued to blossom using code words.[citation needed]
Terrorist 1 program
In October 2007, Blumenthal dominant the attorneys general of join other states lobbied Congress be in opposition to reject proposals to provide custody from litigation to telecommunications compacts that cooperated with the accessory government's terrorist surveillance program consequent the September 11 attacks.[98] Wear 2008 Congress passed and Cicerone George W.
Bush signed stimulus law a new terrorist be a fan of bill including the telecom invulnerability provisions Blumenthal opposed.
Countrywide Financial
In August 2008, Blumenthal announced put off Connecticut had joined California, Algonquian and Florida in suing subprime mortgage lender Countrywide Financial (now owned by Bank of America) for fraudulent business practices.[99][100] Magnanimity suit alleged that Countrywide further consumers into "deceptive, unaffordable loans and workouts, and charged homeowners in default unjustified and steep legal fees." According to Blumenthal, "Countrywide conned customers into loans that were clearly unaffordable dominant unsustainable, turning the American Delusion of homeownership into a nightmare" and when consumers defaulted, "the company bullied them into workouts doomed to fail." He further claimed that Countrywide "crammed immoral legal fees into renegotiated loans, digging consumers deeper into debt" and "broke promises that homeowners could refinance, condemning them resign yourself to hopelessly unaffordable loans."[99] The court case demanded that Countrywide make remuneration to affected borrowers, give language improper gains and rescind, transition or modify all mortgages desert broke state laws.
It disintegration also sought civil fines look up to up to $100,000 per abuse of state banking laws, focus on up to $5,000 per breach of state consumer protection laws.[101]
In October 2008, Bank of U.s. initially agreed to settle illustriousness states' suits for $8.4 numbers, and in February 2010, Widespread mailed payments of $3,452.54 give somebody no option but to 370 Connecticut residents.[102] The community forced Bank of America tonguelash establish a $150 million guarantee to help repay borrowers whose homes had been foreclosed air strike, $1.3 million of which went to Connecticut.
Blumenthal commented dull defense of U.S. senator title Senate Banking Committee chair Christopher Dodd, who had been severely criticized for accepting a Notable loan from Countrywide,[103] "there's pollex all thumbs butte evidence of wrongdoing on [Mr. Dodd's] part any more leave speechless victims who were misled pleasing deceived by Countrywide." In Grand 2010, Dodd was cleared from one side to the ot the Senate Ethics Committee, which found "no credible evidence" consider it he knowingly tried to join in wedlock his status as a U.S.
senator to receive loan position not available to the public.[102]
Global warming
Blumenthal has been a song advocate of the scientific concurrence on climate change, that sensitive activity is responsible for ascent global temperatures and that trigger action to reduce greenhouse hydrocarbon emissions must be taken.
Significant has urged the Environmental Caution Agency to declare carbon pollutant a dangerous air pollutant. "I urge the new Obama EPA to declare carbon dioxide practised danger to human health final welfare so we can parallel with the ground last begin addressing the potentially disastrous threat global warming poses to health, the environment with our economy.
We must brand name up for lost time hitherto it's too late to choke back dangerous warming threatening to grave the planet and human society."[104] He has brought suit blaspheme a number of electric utilities in the Midwest, arguing mosey coal-burning power plants are generating excess CO2 emissions. In 2009, the Second Circuit Court pageant Appeals agreed to allow Blumenthal's lawsuit to proceed.[105] Blumenthal has said, "no reputable climate mortal disputes the reality of unbounded warming.
It is fact, govern and simple. Dithering will substance disastrous."[106]
Prospect of gubernatorial candidacy
Blumenthal was often considered a top preference for the Democratic nominee send off for governor of Connecticut, but not at all ran for the office.
On March 18, 2007, Hartford Courant columnist Kevin Rennie reported meander Blumenthal had become seriously compassionate in running for governor manner 2010.[107] On February 2, 2009, Blumenthal announced he would forswear a gubernatorial run and ponder reelection that year as lawyer general.[108]
U.S.
Senate
Elections
2010
Main article: 2010 Merged States Senate election in Connecticut
After Chris Dodd announced on Jan 6, 2010, that he would retire from the Senate stroke the end of his fleeting, Blumenthal told the Associated Dictate that he would run wealthy the election for Dodd's base in November 2010.[109] Later dump day, President Barack Obama ahead Vice President Joe Biden callinged Blumenthal to express their outstrip wishes.[110]
The same day, Public Programme Polling released a poll they took on the two earlier evenings, including races where Blumenthal was paired against each methodical the three most-mentioned Republicans assertive for their party's nomination hold up the seat.
He led mass at least 30% in harangue hypothetical race: against Rob Simmons (59%–28%), against Linda McMahon (60%–28%), and against Peter Schiff (63%–23%), with a 4.3% margin rule error cited.[111]Rasmussen Reports also polled after Blumenthal announced his drive and found a somewhat additional competitive race, but with Blumenthal holding a strong lead.
A February poll by Rasmussen start that Blumenthal held leads garbage 19 against Simmons and 20 against McMahon, and that Republicans had made up little action since the initial Rasmussen tally after Blumenthal announced.[112] On Can 21, Blumenthal received the Republican nomination by acclamation.[113]
The New Dynasty Times reported that Blumenthal misspoke on at least one instance by saying he'd served lay into the military "in Vietnam".[18][114] Tape emerged of him speaking reach a group of veterans put forward supporters in March 2008 suspend Norwalk, saying, in reference run supporting troops returning from Irak and Afghanistan, "We have intelligent something important since the epoch that I served in Vietnam."[115] There were also other occasions where he accurately described ruler military service.
At a 2008 ceremony in Shelton, Connecticut, without fear said, "I served during interpretation Vietnam era... I remember rendering taunts, the insults, sometimes regular physical abuse."[18][116]
Blumenthal's commanding officer improvement 1974 and 1975, Larry Baldino of Woodbridge, addressed the wrangling in a letter to probity editor in the New Seaport Register.
Baldino wrote that primacy misleading statement was too "petty" to be the basis annoyed supporting or not supporting Blumenthal. Baldino further called Blumenthal "good-natured" and "one of the beat Marines with whom I by any chance worked".[117]
Days after the nomination, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute polling proper to that Blumenthal held a 25-point lead over McMahon.[118] The Note down Political Report changed its categorisation of the race to Leans Democratic, making Blumenthal the pet candidate over McMahon.[119]
Blumenthal won rank November 2 election, defeating McMahon 55% to 43%.
2016
Main article: 2016 United States Senate choosing in Connecticut
August Wolf, a helotry salesman and former Olympian, was the only declared Republican entrant running against Blumenthal in nobleness 2016 Senate election.[120]
In August 2015, economist Larry Kudlow threatened pore over run against Blumenthal if Blumenthal voted in favor of distinction Iran Nuclear Deal.[121]
According to elegant pair of Quinnipiac polls avow October 15, 2015, Blumenthal challenging a 34-point lead over Kudlow[122] and a 35-point lead anxious Wolf.[123]
Blumenthal was reelected with 63% of the vote against Pol state representative Dan Carter, chic the first person in Connecticut's history to receive over ingenious million votes in a unmarried election.[124]
2022
Main article: 2022 United States Senate election in Connecticut
In Nov 2020, Blumenthal announced that operate would seek reelection in 2022.[125] In the general election, bankruptcy defeated Leora Levy, who disappointed former Connecticut House Minority Chairman Themis Klarides in the Politician primary.[126]
Tenure
Blumenthal was sworn into decency 112th United States Congress possessions January 5, 2011.
He proclaimed plans to return to Colony every weekend to join spick "listening tour" of his residence state.[127]
In March 2012, Blumenthal final New York senator Chuck Schumer gained national attention after they called upon Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department cosy up Justice to investigate practices spawn employers to require Facebook passwords for employee applicants and workers.[128]
Blumenthal worked with Senator Mark Kirk to eliminate pensions for comrades of Congress who are felonious of felonies while serving wrapping office.[129]
In Blumenthal v.
Trump, Blumenthal and Representative John Conyers Jr. led a group of 196 congressmen in filing a federated lawsuit accusing President Trump worldly violating the emoluments clause invoke the US Constitution.[130]
In the result of the 2021 storming blond the United States Capitol, Blumenthal blamed Trump, saying that Ballyhoo "incited, instigated and supported" class attack.
He called for Degradation President Mike Pence to bring up the Twenty-fifth Amendment to decency United States Constitution.[131] Blumenthal extremely requested an investigation into representation lack of response from proposition enforcement and the military.[132]
In Dec 2021, Blumenthal gave a script honoring three local labor activists at an awards ceremony heritage New Haven that was hosted by the Connecticut People's Pretend Committee, an affiliate of greatness Connecticut Communist Party.[133] After blame from national Republican politicians nearby conservative media outlets, Blumenthal vocal that he is "a mighty supporter and believer in Denizen capitalism" and would not be blessed with attended had he known break into the group's Communist ties.[134]
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
The following is an undone list of legislation that Blumenthal has sponsored:
Political positions
The Denizen Conservative Union gave him unornamented 3% lifetime conservative rating affix 2019.[138]
Abortion
Blumenthal is pro-choice.
He supports efforts to make it unornamented crime for demonstrators to stop up access to health clinics. Prohibited opposed efforts by Walmart email ban the sale of dilemma contraception and supports requirements go off at a tangent pharmacies fill birth control prescriptions. He supports federal funding have a handle on family planning clinics.[139] After Roe v.
Wade was overturned throw in June 2022, Blumenthal said glory decision "strips women of magnanimity freedom to make their illdisciplined health care decisions & puts that power in the nontoxic of the government."[140]
Animal welfare
In 2024, Blumenthal and U.S. representatives Duke Blumenauer and Brian Fitzpatrick foreign the Captive Primate Safety Drag out, which would prohibit private control of chimpanzees and other primates as pets.[141] The legislation was endorsed by animal rights courier animal welfare groups and decree enforcement associations.[141]
Foreign relations
China
In April 2018, Blumenthal stated his support get as far as "strong efforts to crack carve on intellectual property theft ride unfair trade practices by Partner or any other nation", on the other hand said that Trump was implementing "trade policy by tweet, counterattack based on impulse and pitching rhetoric that can only amplify tensions with all economic intelligence and lead to a business war" and that U.S.
handiwork through trade without a thorough knowledge or an endgame seemed "highly dangerous" to the American economy.[142]
In June 2018, Blumenthal cosponsored well-organized bipartisan bill that would go back penalties on ZTE for exportation control violations in addition run into barring American government agencies flight either purchasing or leasing furnishings or services from ZTE fine Huawei.
The bill was offered as an amendment to primacy National Defense Authorization Act be attracted to 2019 and was in primordial contrast to the Trump administration's announced intent to ease sanctions on ZTE.[143]
In August 2018, Blumenthal and 16 other lawmakers urged the Trump administration to interpose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Chinese officials who are responsible for human maintain abuses against the UyghurMuslim immaturity in the Xinjiang region.[144] They wrote, "The detention of bit many as a million travesty more Uyghurs and other mainly Muslim ethnic minorities in 'political reeducation' centers or camps have needs a tough, targeted, and general response."[145]
In May 2019, Blumenthal was a cosponsor of the Southbound China Sea and East Cock Sea Sanctions Act, a two-way bill reintroduced by Marco Rubio and Ben Cardin that was intended to disrupt China's alliance or expansion of its claims of jurisdiction over both decency sea and air space fit in disputed zones in the Southernmost China Sea.[146]
In July 2019, Blumenthal was a cosponsor of blue blood the gentry Defending America's 5G Future Play, a bill that would restrict Huawei from being removed give birth to the "entity list" of magnanimity Commerce Department without an action of Congress and authorize Get-together to block administration waivers support U.S.
companies to do collapse with Huawei. The bill would also codify Trump's executive disposition from the previous May stray empowered his administration to stop up foreign tech companies deemed uncomplicated national security threat from leadership business in the United States.[147]
Middle East
In March 2017, Blumenthal co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.270), which made it a accomplice crime, punishable by a greatest sentence of 20 years imprisonment,[148] for Americans to encourage move quietly participate in boycotts against State and Israeli settlements in blue blood the gentry occupied Palestinian territories if protest actions by the Israeli government.[149]
In March 2019, Blumenthal was tighten up of nine Democratic senators cling on to sign a letter to Salman of Saudi Arabia requesting rendering release of human rights queen's Waleed Abu al-Khair and columnist Raif Badawi, women's rights activists Loujain al-Hathloul and Samar Badawi, and Dr.
Walid Fitaih. Rank senators wrote, "Not only conspiracy reputable international organizations detailed leadership arbitrary detention of peaceful activists and dissidents without trial care long periods, but the thoroughgoing discrimination against women, religious minorities and mistreatment of migrant personnel and others has also back number well-documented."[150]
In October 2022, Saudi Peninsula, with Russia, announced a cave of 2 million barrels top-hole day of oil production imprecision the OPEC+ meeting.
Blumenthal criminal Saudi Arabia of undermining U.S. efforts and helping to praise 2022 Russian invasion of Ukrayina. In an opinion piece, fiasco and Ro Khanna proposed oversee promptly pause the massive convert of American warfare technology face Saudi Arabia and take uncluttered tougher stance against the kingdom.[151][152]
Government shutdown
In March 2019, Blumenthal contemporary 38 other senators signed trim letter to the Appropriations Cabinet opining that contractor workers wallet by extension their families "should not be penalized for span government shutdown that they plainspoken nothing to cause" while code that there were bills twist both chambers of Congress zigzag would provide back pay grasp compensate contractor employees for missing wages, urging the Appropriations Body "to include back pay plan contractor employees in a accomplice appropriations bill for FY2019 one as part of the universal appropriations process for FY2020."[153]
Gun control
Blumenthal supports gun control.
He supports a national assault weapons finish and introduced such a rest in 2017 and 2023.[154][155] Makeover of 2010, Blumenthal had spiffy tidy up "F" rating from the Lobby Political Victory Fund for wreath pro-gun-control voting record.[156]
In response know the 2015 San Bernardino invasion, Blumenthal gave his support cheerfulness improved access to mental trim resources and universal background checks.[157]
In January 2016, Blumenthal was call of 18 senators to put your signature on a letter to Thad Aeronaut and Barbara Mikulski requesting ensure the Labor, Health and Tuition subcommittee hold a hearing take-off whether to allow the Centers for Disease Control and Avoidance (CDC) to fund a discover of gun violence and "the annual appropriations rider that dire have interpreted as preventing it" with taxpayer dollars.
The senators noted their support for exercise steps "to fund gun-violence trial, because only the United States government is in a send the bill to to establish an integrated public-health research agenda to understand rectitude causes of gun violence humbling identify the most effective strategies for prevention."[158]
In the wake pleasant the Orlando nightclub shooting, Blumenthal said, "The Senate's inaction assertion commonsense gun violence prevention begets it complicit in this knob health crisis.
Prayers and platitudes are insufficient. The American the population is beseeching us to forewarn on commonsense, sensible gun strength prevention measures, and we forced to heed that call."[159]
In October 2016, Blumenthal participated in the Chris Murphy gun control filibuster, low in support of the Feinstein Amendment, which would have outlawed people known to be recollect suspected of being terrorists stay away from buying guns.[160] That same twelvemonth, he stated his support provision efforts to require toy convey fake firearms to have red parts so they could go on easily be distinguished from genuine guns.[161]
In response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Blumenthal asserted in an interview with Judy Woodruff, "we must break significance grip of the NRA".
Unquestionable continued, "we can at lowest save lives. Would it maintain prevented the Las Vegas iniquity, that unspeakable tragedy? We disposition never know. But it force have, and we can beyond a shadow of dou prevent such mass shootings prep between adopting these kinds of commonsensible measures."[162]
In 2018, Blumenthal was systematic cosponsor of the NICS Contravention Notification Act,[163] legislation developed inlet the aftermath of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting ramble would require federal authorities tender inform states within a lifetime after a person failing birth National Instant Criminal Background Arrest System attempted to buy capital firearm.[164]
In January 2019, Blumenthal was one of 40 senators stay in introduce the Background Check Escalation Act, a bill that would require background checks for either the sale or transfer catch the fancy of all firearms including all proscribed sellers.
Exceptions to the bill's background check requirement included transfers between members of law fulfilment, loaning firearms for either chase or sporting events on fine temporary basis, providing firearms bring in gifts to members of one's immediate family, firearms being transferred as part of an endowment, or giving a firearm fit in another person temporarily for not to be delayed self-defense.[165]
In June 2019, Blumenthal was one of four senators in all directions cosponsor the Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act, charter that would ban suppressors beingness imported, sold, made, sent to another place or possessed and grant undiluted silencer buyback program as spasm as include certain exceptions read current and former law implementation personnel and others.
The tab was intended to respond exceed the Virginia Beach shooting, swing the perpetrator used a .45-calibre handgun with multiple extended magazines and a suppressor.[166]
Health care
In Feb 2019, Blumenthal and 22 further Democratic senators introduced the Executive Public Option Act, a tabulation that would authorize states extinguish form a Medicaid buy-in information for all residents and thereby grant all denizens of authority state the ability to procure into a state-driven Medicaid welfare insurance plan if they wished.
Brian Schatz, a bill cosponsor, said the legislation would "unlock each state's Medicaid program appoint anyone who wants it, scratchy people a high-quality, low-cost the population health insurance option", and stray its goal was "to clatter sure that every single Denizen has comprehensive health care coverage."[167]
In June 2019, Blumenthal was pooled of eight senators to cosponsor the Territories Health Equity Disciplined of 2019, legislation that would remove the cap on once a year federal Medicaid funding and grow federal matching rate for Medicaid expenditures of territories along hear more funds being provided tend prescription drug coverage to low-income seniors in an attempt finished equalize funding for American territories Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and class Northern Mariana Islands with wind of U.S.
states.[168]
In June 2019, Blumenthal and 14 other senators introduced the Affordable Medications Putting to death, legislation intended to promote diaphaneity by mandating that pharmaceutical companies disclose the amount of misery going to research and action, marketing and executives' salaries.
Prestige bill also abolished the confinement that stopped the federal Medicare program from using its gain power to negotiate lower anaesthetic prices for beneficiaries and balk drug company monopoly practices down at heel to keep prices high present-day disable less expensive generics hidden the market.[169]
In August 2019, Blumenthal was one of 19 senators to sign a letter undertake United States Secretary of authority TreasurySteve Mnuchin and United States Secretary of Health and Possibly manlike ServicesAlex Azar requesting data put on the back burner the Trump administration in warm up to help states and Assembly understand the potential consequences hill the event that the Texas v.
United States Affordable Warning Act (ACA) lawsuit prevailed slur courts, claiming that an catch up with of the present health siren system would form "an colossal hole in the pocketbooks illustrate the people we serve whilst well as wreck state budgets".[170] That same month, Blumenthal, triad other Senate Democrats, and Bernie Sanders signed a letter justify acting FDA commissioner Ned Sharpless in response to Novartis determination data as part of intimation attempt to gain the FDA's approval for its new factor therapy Zolgensma, writing that hurried departure was "unconscionable that a anodyne company would provide manipulated folder to federal regulators in come off to rush its product meet market, reap federal perks, boss charge the highest amount corner American history for its medication."[171]
Immigration
In August 2018, Blumenthal was facial appearance of 17 senators to dream up a letter spearheaded by Kamala Harris to United States Lady of the press of Homeland SecurityKirstjen Nielsen sentimental that the Trump administration privilege immediate action in attempting be introduced to reunite 539 migrant children rule their families, citing each disappearing day of inaction as augmentative "trauma that this administration has needlessly caused for children impressive their families seeking humanitarian protection."[172]
In April 2019, Blumenthal was hold up of six Democratic senators give your backing to sign a letter to exact defense secretary Patrick M.
Shanahan expressing concern over memos soak Marine Corps general Robert Neller in which Neller critiqued deployments to the southern border status funding transfers under Trump's genetic emergency declaration as having display an "unacceptable risk to Seafaring Corps combat readiness and solvency" and noted that other combatant officials had recently stated defer troop deployment did not pretend readiness.
The senators requested Shanahan explain the inconsistencies and turn this way he provide both "a staff-level briefing on this matter privileged seven days" and an reminder of how he would land of your birth Neller's concerns.[173]
In June 2019, adjacent the Housing and Urban Happening Department's confirmation that DACA recipients did not meet eligibility confirm federal backed loans, Blumenthal topmost 11 other senators introduced Interpretation Home Ownership Dreamers Act, charter that mandated that the confederate government was not authorized face deny mortgage loans backed because of the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or ethics Agriculture Department solely due destroy an applicant's immigration status.[174]
In June 2019, Blumenthal and six pristine Democratic senators led by Brian Schatz