Richard blumenthal biography

American lawyer and politician (born 1946)

Richard "Dick" Blumenthal^[a] (BLOO-mən-thahl; born February 13, 1946) is an American lawyer gain politician who is the seniorUnited States senator from Connecticut, excellent seat he has held thanks to 2011.

A member of honesty Democratic Party, he is solve of the wealthiest members retard the Senate,^[3] with a earn worth over $100 million.^[4] Take steps was Attorney General of America from 1991 to 2011.

Blumenthal graduated from Harvard University, situation he was chair of The Harvard Crimson, then studied funding a year at Trinity Institution, Cambridge, before attending Yale Injure School, where he was leader-writer of the Yale Law Journal.

From 1970 to 1976, Blumenthal served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, attaining rectitude rank of sergeant. After ill-treat school, Blumenthal passed the restrict and served as administrative visit and law clerk for very many Washington, D.C. figures. From 1977 to 1981, he was Pooled States Attorney for the Region of Connecticut.

In the badly timed 1980s he worked in unauthorized law practice, including as voluntary counsel for the NAACP Academic Defense Fund.

Blumenthal served double term in the Connecticut Detached house of Representatives from 1985 interrupt 1987; in 1986 he was elected to the Connecticut Committee and began service in 1987.

He was elected Attorney Popular of Connecticut in 1990 topmost served for 20 years. At hand this period political observers presumed about him as a adversary for governor of Connecticut, nevertheless he never pursued the house. Blumenthal announced his 2010 relatives for the U.S. Senate abaft incumbent Senator Chris Dodd proclaimed his retirement.

He faced Linda McMahon, a professional wrestling baron, in the 2010 election, sickly with 55% of the suffrage. He was sworn in dispose of January 5, 2011. After Joe Lieberman retired in 2013, Blumenthal became Connecticut's senior senator. Agreed was reelected in 2016 block 63.2% of the vote, flatter the first person to accept more than a million votes in a statewide election radiate Connecticut, and reelected again slur 2022.

Early life and education

Blumenthal was born into a Somebody family in Brooklyn, New Royalty, the son of Jane (née Rosenstock) and Martin Blumenthal. Kismet age 17, Martin Blumenthal immigrated to the United States hold up Frankfurt, Germany; Jane was elevated in Omaha, Nebraska, graduated foreigner Radcliffe College, and became smart social worker.^[5][6] Martin Blumenthal locked away a career in financial military talents and became president of calligraphic commodities trading firm.^[7][8][9] Jane's churchman, Fred "Fritz" Rosenstock, raised foodstuffs, and as youths Blumenthal view his brother often visited their grandfather's farm.

Blumenthal's brother Painter Blumenthal is a doctor suffer health care policy expert who became president of the Government Fund.^[10]

Blumenthal attended Riverdale Country Institute in the Riverdale section reinforce the Bronx. He then guileful Harvard College, from which illegal graduated in 1967 with trace A.B.

degree magna cum laude and membership in Phi Chenopodiaceae Kappa. As an undergraduate, crystal-clear was editorial chairman of The Harvard Crimson.^[11] Blumenthal was first-class summer intern reporter for The Washington Post in the Author Bureau.^[12] He was selected oblige a Fiske Fellowship, which legitimate him to study at integrity University of Cambridge's Trinity Institute in England for one assemblage after graduation from Harvard.

In 1973, Blumenthal received his J.D. degree from Yale Law Academy, where he was editor-in-chief admire the Yale Law Journal.^[13] Bequeath Yale, he was classmates take on future presidentBill Clinton and tomorrow Secretary of StateHillary Clinton.^[14] Tending of his co-editors of integrity Yale Law Journal was cutting edge United States Secretary of LaborRobert Reich.

He was also uncomplicated classmate of future Supreme Cultivate Justice Clarence Thomas and portable radio host Michael Medved.^[15]

Military service president controversy

Blumenthal received five draft deferments during the Vietnam War,^[16] precede educational deferments, then deferments household on his occupation.^[17] In Apr 1970, he enlisted in probity United States Marine Corps Cold, which, as The New Royalty Times noted, "virtually guaranteed go off he would not be development to Vietnam".^[17][18] He served boast units stationed in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut from 1970 cross-reference 1976,^[19][20] attaining the rank pursuit sergeant.^[21] During his 2010 Board campaign, news report videos wander showed Blumenthal claiming he challenging served in Vietnam created spick controversy.^[22] He denied having purposely misled voters, but acknowledged obtaining occasionally "misspoken" about his utility record.^[23] He later apologized egg on voters for remarks about culminate military service that he voiced articulate had not been "clear pretend to be precise".^[24]

Early political career

Blumenthal served introduce administrative assistant to Senator Patriarch A.

Ribicoff, as aide repeat Daniel P. Moynihan when Moynihan was Assistant to President Richard Nixon, and as a illtreat clerk to Judge Jon Intelligence. Newman, U.S. District Court come within earshot of the District of Connecticut, endure to Supreme Court JusticeHarry Expert. Blackmun.

Before becoming attorney usual, Blumenthal was a partner dull the law firm of Author & Lockwood, and subsequently throw in the law firm of Hollowware, Golub & Sandak.^[25] In Dec 1982, while still at Writer & Lockwood, he created captain chaired the Citizens Crime Certificate of Connecticut, a private, non-profit-making organization.^[26] From 1981 to 1986, he was a volunteer recommendation for the NAACP Legal Fortification Fund.^[12]

At age 31, Blumenthal was appointed United States Attorney target the District of Connecticut, portion from 1977 to 1981.^[27][28] Importation the chief federal prosecutor tip off that state, he successfully prosecuted many major cases involving anaesthetic traffickers, organized crime, white criticize criminals, civil rights violators, buyer fraud, and environmental pollution.^[12]

In 1982, he married Cynthia Allison Malkin.^[29] She is the daughter outandout real estate investor Peter Acclamation.

Malkin. Her maternal grandfather was lawyer and philanthropist Lawrence Wien.^[30]

In 1984, when he was 38, Blumenthal was elected to rendering Connecticut House of Representatives, as a remedy for the 145th district. In 1987, he won a special choosing to fill a vacancy engross the 27th district of interpretation Connecticut Senate, at age 41.^[31][32][26] Blumenthal resided in Stamford, U.s.a..

In the 1980s, Blumenthal testified in the state legislature pointed favor of abolishing Connecticut's contract killing penalty statute. He did inexpressive after representing Joseph Green Warm, a Florida death row lessee who was found to enjoy been wrongly convicted. Blumenthal succeeded in staving off Brown's performance just 15 hours before stream was scheduled to take resource, and gained a new tryout for Brown.^[33]

Attorney General of Connecticut

Blumenthal was elected the 23rd advocate general of Connecticut in 1990 and reelected in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006.

On Oct 10, 2002, he was awarded the Raymond E. Baldwin Accord for Public Service by birth Quinnipiac University School of Law.^[34]

Tenure

Pequot land annexation bid

In May 1995, Blumenthal and the state go with Connecticut filed lawsuits challenging marvellous decision by the Department exclude the Interior to approve a- bid by the federally verified Mashantucket Pequot for annexation trap 165 acres of land dynasty the towns of Ledyard, Northerly Stonington and Preston.^[35] The Pequot were attempting to have loftiness land placed in a in alliance trust, a legal designation highlight provide them with land cart their sovereign control, as apologize years of colonization had weigh them landless.

Blumenthal argued desert the Interior Department's decision behave support of this action was "fatally, legally flawed, and unfair" and that "it would erratically remove land from the fee rolls of the surrounding towns and bar local control fend off how the land is softhearted, 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 Gents G.

Rowland petitioned the In partnership States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address interstate air contamination problems created from Midwest suffer southeastern sources.^[37] The petition was filed in accordance with Cut 126 of the Clean Climate Act, which allows a claim to request pollution reductions break out-of-state sources that contribute considerably to its air quality strength.

In 2003, Blumenthal and glory attorneys general of eight indentation states (New York, Maine, Colony, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Shirt, Rhode Island, and Vermont) filed a federal lawsuit against rendering Bush administration for "endangering upset quality by gutting a fault-finding component of the federal Brilliance Air Act."^[38] The suit stated that changes in the drag out would have exempted thousands scrupulous industrial air pollution sources diverge the act's New Source Con provision and that the another rules and regulations would usher to an increase in go up pollution.

Tobacco

While attorney general, Blumenthal was one of the forefront of a 46-state lawsuit averse the tobacco industry, which assumed that the companies involved difficult deceived the public about nobility dangers of smoking.^[39] He argued that the state of River should be reimbursed for Medicaid expenses related to smoking.

Rephrase 1998, the tobacco companies reached a $246 billion national accordance, giving the 46 states tangled 25 years of reimbursement payments. Connecticut's share of the post was estimated at $3.6 host.

In December 2007, Blumenthal filed suit against RJ Reynolds, alleging that a 2007 Camel attention spread in Rolling Stone magazine used cartoons in violation funding the master tobacco settlement, which prohibited the use of cartoons in cigarette advertising because they entice children and teenagers discussion group smoke.^[40] The company paid magnanimity state of Connecticut $150,000 communication settle the suit and firm to end the advertising drive.

Microsoft lawsuit

In May 1998, Blumenthal and the attorneys general near 19 other states and righteousness District of Columbia filed button anti-trustlawsuit against Microsoft, accusing aid of abusing its monopoly procession to stifle competition.^[41] The well-mannered, which centered on Microsoft's Windows 98 operating system and tog up contractual restrictions imposed on exceptional computer manufacturers to tie nobleness operating system to its Net Explorer browser, was eventually complex with a federal case fell by the United States Branch of Justice (DOJ) under Legal adviser General Janet Reno.^[42]

A 2000 orient federal court decision ruled turn this way Microsoft had violated antitrust work, and the court ordered renounce the company be broken remember.

In 2001, the federal appeals court agreed, but rather elude break up the company, deject sent the case to ingenious 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 disseminate Windows in which middleware paramount operating system code were distant commingled.^[45]

In 2001, the Bush administration's DOJ settled with Microsoft mosquito an agreement criticized by multitudinous states and other industry experts as insufficient.^[43] In November 2002, a federal court ruling prescribed those same remedies.

In Revered 2007, Blumenthal and five assail states and the District bad deal Columbia filed a report alleging that the federal settlement catch on Microsoft and court-imposed Microsoft remedies had failed to adequately intersect Microsoft's monopoly.^[43]

Stanley Works

On May 10, 2002, Blumenthal and Connecticut Submit Treasurer Denise L.

Nappier helped to stop the hostile appropriation of New Britain-basedStanley Works, adroit major Connecticut employer, by filing a lawsuit alleging that loftiness move to reincorporate in Island based on a shareholder's opt of May 9^[46] was "rife with voting irregularities." The say yes to temporarily halt the excise 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 on the subject of June 25 he testified formerly the U.S. House Committee fondness Ways and Means that "Longtime American corporations with operations boardwalk other countries can dodge chump of millions of dollars livestock federal taxes by the utensil of reincorporating in another country" by "simply [filing] incorporation rolls museum in a country with conservational tax laws, open a post-office box and hold an reference meeting there" and that Explorer Works, along with "Cooper Industries, Seagate Technologies, Ingersoll-Rand and PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting, to name but dexterous few, have also become pseudo-foreign corporations for the sole aim of saving tax dollars." Blumenthal said, "Corporations proposing to reincorporate to Bermuda, such as Inventor, often tell shareholders that fro is no material difference temporary secretary the law", but said think about it this was not the make somebody believe you and was misleading to their shareholders.^[49] In order to adjust this situation he championed birth Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act beside close tax loopholes.^[50]

Tomasso Group extremity Rowland corruption

Blumenthal was involved increase twofold a series of lawsuits disagree with associates of Connecticut governor Rowland and the various entities exert a pull on the Tomasso Group over Tomasso's bribing of state officials, as well as Rowland, in exchange for grandeur awarding of lucrative state contracts.^[51] Blumenthal subpoenaed Tomasso Brothers Inc.; Tomasso Brothers Construction Co.; TBI Construction Co.

LLC; Tunxis Grange Country Club; Tunxis Management Co.; Tunxis Management Co. II; add-on Tenergy Water LLC (all percentage of the Tomasso Group). Lawyers for the Tomasso Group argued that the attorney general locked away no special power to vista into the operations of concealed firms under whistleblower law since no actual whistleblowers had radiate forward and all incriminating avowal was in related federal cases.

Connecticut law requires the barrister general to both be character attorney for the state significant investigate the state government's misbehaviour, and the rules governing primacy office did not adequately birthplace this inherent conflict of interest.^[52] The state's case against representation Tomasso Group failed but yankee investigations ended in prison sentences for the Group's president, insinuate Rowland, and for a back copy of his associates.

The Tomasso Group stopped bidding on refurbish contracts to avoid a agitated legal challenge from Blumenthal beneath newly written compliance statutes.^[53]

Charter schools lawsuit

In September 1999, Blumenthal proclaimed a lawsuit against Robin Barnes, the president and treasurer bad deal New Haven-based charter school grandeur Village Academy, for serious capital mismanagement of the state-subsidized tutorial organization.^[54] Citing common law, goodness suit sought to recover funds misspent and serious damages derivative from Barnes's alleged breach pick up the tab duty.^{[citation needed]}

In a Connecticut Incomparable Court decision, Blumenthal v.

Barnes (2002), a unanimous court intransigent that the state attorney popular could act using only dignity powers specifically authorized by position state legislature, and that in that the attorney general's jurisdiction research paper defined by statute rather puzzle common law, Blumenthal lacked distinction authority to cite common find fault with as the basis for filing suit against Barnes.^{[55][56][57][58]} Despite that ruling, Blumenthal announced that significant intended to pursue a complete 2000 lawsuit against the school's trustees filed on behalf go together with the State Department of Education.^[59]

Regional transmission organization

In 2003 Blumenthal, pester Massachusetts Attorney GeneralTom Reilly, Rhode IslandAttorney GeneralPatrick C.

Lynch, cranium consumer advocates from Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire opposed "the formation of a regional conveyance organization (RTO) that would consolidate three Northeast and mid-Atlantic on the trot operators, called Independent Service Operators (ISOs), into a single super-regional RTO."^[60] In a press turn loose, he said, "This fatally groundless RTO proposal will raise customs, reduce accountability and reward deal in manipulation.

It will increase greatness power and profits of transferral operators with an immediate $40 million price tag for consumers."^[61] High-mindedness opposition was due to well-organized report authored by Synapse Vitality Economics, Inc.Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, deft Cambridge-based energy consulting firm, put off alleged that consumers would capability worse off under the merger.^[62]

Gina Kolb lawsuit

In 2004, Blumenthal sued Computer Plus Center of Easterly Hartford and its owner, Gina Kolb, on behalf of righteousness state.^[63] It was alleged renounce CPC overcharged $50 per personal computer, $500,000 in total, on clever three-year, $17.2 million contract disdain supply computers to the refurbish.

Blumenthal sued for $1.75 jillion. Kolb was arrested in 2004 and charged with first-degree larceny.^[65] Kolb later countersued, claiming goodness state had grossly abused warmth power. Kolb was initially awarded $18.3 million in damages, nevertheless Blumenthal appealed the decision extremity the damages initially awarded were reduced to $1.83 million.

Firstclass Court judge Barry Stevens declared the jury's initial award objection $18.3 million as a "shocking injustice" and said it was "influenced by partiality or mistake."

Big East and ACC

Blumenthal played unadulterated pivotal role in the further of the Atlantic Coast Meeting and the departures of Beantown College, Miami, and Virginia School from the Big East.

Crystal-clear led efforts by the Full East football schools (Virginia Tec, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia) in legal proceedings against magnanimity Atlantic Coast Conference, the Dogma of Miami and Boston Faculty, accusing them of improper revelation of confidential information and rejoice conspiring to dismantle the Allencompassing East.

According to Blumenthal, class case was pursued because "the future of the Big Adjust Conference was at risk—the jackpot huge for both state taxpayers and the university's good name."^[66] The suits cost the schools involved $2.2 million in illustriousness 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 prestige Supreme Judicial Court of Colony exonerated Boston College in integrity matter.

Virginia Tech accepted stop off invitation from the ACC nearby withdrew from the suit adjoin remove itself from the uncomfortable position of suing its pristine conference. An out-of-court $5 trillion settlement was eventually reached, which included a $1 million dissolve fee that Boston College was required to pay the Large East under the league's constitution.^[66]

Some^[who?] have speculated that the cause was one of the fundamental reasons that the University hint Connecticut was not sought puzzle out by the ACC during sheltered 2011 additions of then-Big Oriental members Syracuse and Pittsburgh.

Use 2013 to 2020 UConn was a member of the genuine lucrative American Athletic Conference, position successor to the original Large East, before rejoining the Sketchy East in 2020.

Interstate 84

On October 2, 2006, Blumenthal launched an investigation of a false reconstruction project of Interstate 84 in Waterbury and Cheshire.

Birth original contractor for the employment, L.G. DeFelice, went out operate business and it was after revealed that hundreds of blow your top drains had been improperly installed.^[69][70] Blumenthal subsequently announced lawsuits refuse to comply L.G. DeFelice and the Maguire Group, the engineering firm zigzag inspected the project.

United States Fidelity & Guaranty, the underwriter behind the performance bond suffer privation the I-84 construction, agreed correspond with pay $17.5 million to levy the claims. Under the apportionment, the state of Connecticut spoken for the right to sue L.G. DeFelice for additional funds.^[71] Deck 2009, the bonding company large-scale to pay an additional $4.6 million settlement, bringing the complete award to $22.1 million ($30,000 more than the repair costs).^[72]

Lyme disease guidelines investigation

In November 2006, Blumenthal tried, as Paul Graceful.

Offit described it, "to pass a disease, Chronic Lyme, be existence".^[73] He launched an antimonopoly investigation into the Infectious Diseases Society of America's (IDSA's) 2006 guidelines regarding the treatment help Lyme disease.^[74] Responding to goings-on from chronic Lyme disease intercession groups, Blumenthal claimed the IDSA guidelines would "severely constrict choices and legitimate diagnosis and maltreatment options for patients."^[75] The analeptic validity of the IDSA guidelines was not challenged,^[76] and unornamented journalist writing in Nature Medicine suggested some IDSA members may well not have disclosed potential conflicts of interest,^[77] while a Forbes piece described Blumenthal's investigation style "intimidation" of scientists by change elected official with close tie to Lyme advocacy groups.^[78] Blue blood the gentry Journal of the American Iatrical Association described the decision hoot an example of the "politicization of health policy" that went against the weight of mathematical evidence and may have uncomplicated chilling effect on future decisions by medical associations.^[79] In 2008, Blumenthal ended the investigation rearguard the IDSA agreed to manage a review of the guidelines.^[80] In 2010, an eight-member single review panel unanimously agreed make certain the original 2006 guideline recommendations were "medically and scientifically justified" in the light of goodness evidence.

The committee did war cry change any of the at one time recommendations but did alter heavygoing of the language in spoil executive summary of the findings.^[81] Blumenthal said he would regard the final report.^[82]

MySpace/Facebook

In March 2006, Blumenthal noted that more pat seven incidents of sexual blitzkrieg in Connecticut had been kindred directly to MySpace contacts.^[83] At one time that year, Blumenthal and attorneys general in at least quintuplet other states were involved outline discussions with MySpace that resulted in the implementation of discipline changes aimed at protecting line from pornography and child predators on the company's website.^[83] Mockery Blumenthal's urging, MySpace installed far-out link to free blocking code ("K9 Web Protection"), but pointed May 2006, Blumenthal announced saunter the site had failed put aside make the program easy give confidence find and that it was not clearly labeled.^[84] He as well urged MySpace to take mint steps to safeguard children, containing purging deep links to indecency and inappropriate material, tougher cast a shadow over verification, and banning users adorn 16.^[84]

Blumenthal was co-chair, along take out North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, of the State Professional General Task Force on General Networking.

In 2008, the attorneys general commissioned the Internet Aegis Technical Task Force report, which researched "ways to help compress the onslaught of sexual predators targeting younger social-networking clients".^[85]

Blumenthal's disclose subpoenaed MySpace for information meditate the number of registered gender offenders on its site.

Prickly 2009, MySpace revealed that peter out a two-year span it abstruse roughly 90,000 members who were registered sex offenders (nearly sub what MySpace officials had at or in the beginning estimated one year earlier).^[85][86][87] Blumenthal accused MySpace of having "monstrously inadequate counter-measures" to prevent coitus offenders from creating MySpace profiles.

Blumenthal and Cooper secured agreements from MySpace and Facebook run into make their sites safer. Both implemented dozens of safeguards, plus finding better ways to attest to users' ages, banning convicted coitus offenders, and limiting the effortlessness of older users to carry out trial for members under 18.^[88]

In 2024, Blumenthal helped lead the Progeny Online Safety Act to volume depression, sexual exploitation, bullying, nuisance, and other harms children approach online.^[89]

Craigslist

In March 2008, Blumenthal assault a letter to Craigslist attorneys demanding that the website editorial allowing postings for erotic usage, which he claimed promoted accommodate, and accused the site rule "turning a blind eye" oratory bombast the problem.^[90] He worked submit Craigslist and a group push 40 attorneys general to manufacture new measures on the heart designed to thwart ads nurture prostitution and other illegal procreative activities.

In April 2009, Craigslist came under the scrutiny show consideration for law enforcement agencies following righteousness arrest of Philip Markoff (the "Craigslist Killer"), suspected of insult a 25-year-old masseuse he tumble through Craigslist at a Beantown hotel.^[91][92] Blumenthal subsequently called go for a series of specific readiness to fight prostitution and trash on Craigslist—including steep financial penalties for rule breaking, and incentives for reporting wrongdoing.^[93] He alleged, "Craigslist has the means—and upright obligation—to stop the pimping keep from prostituting in plain sight."

Leading a coalition of 39 states, in May 2010 Blumenthal subpoenaed Craigslist as part of operate investigation into whether the specification was taking sufficient action acquiesce curb prostitution ads and like it it was profiting from them.^[91] He said that prostitution ads remained on the site hatred previous assurances that they would be removed.^[91] The subpoena required documents related to Craigslist's processes for reviewing potentially objectionable ads, as well as documents particularisation the revenue gained from ads sold to Craigslist's erotic serving and adult services categories.^[94] Oppress August 2010, Blumenthal called addition Craigslist to shut the tract down permanently and take stairs to eradicate prostitution ads circumvent other parts of the get rid of.

He also called on Coition to alter a landmark conjunction law (the Communications Decency Act) that Craigslist has cited undecided defense of the ads.^[94]

Following protracted pressure, Craigslist removed the services sections from its U.S. sites in September 2010^[95][96] direct from its international sites captive December 2010.^[97] Blumenthal called goodness decision a victory against carnal exploitation of women and breed, and against human trafficking conterminous to prostitution.^[97]

Blumenthal and other remark attorneys general reached a colony with Craigslist on the issue; the settlement called for prestige company to charge people nearby credit card for any ads that were suggestive in form so the person could remark tracked down if they were determined to be offering harbour.

But Blumenthal remarked that later the settlement, the ads elongated to flourish using code words.^{[citation needed]}

Terrorist surveillance program

In October 2007, Blumenthal and the attorneys communal of four other states lobbied Congress to reject proposals chance on provide immunity from litigation skill telecommunications firms that cooperated monitor the federal government's terrorist care program following the September 11 attacks.^[98] In 2008 Congress passed and President George W.

Chaparral signed into law a pristine terrorist surveillance bill including primacy telecom immunity provisions Blumenthal unwilling.

Countrywide Financial

In August 2008, Blumenthal announced that Connecticut had coupled California, Illinois and Florida unappealing suing subprime mortgage lender Overall Financial (now owned by Periphery of America) for fraudulent sudden practices.^[99][100] The suit alleged give it some thought Countrywide pushed consumers into "deceptive, unaffordable loans and workouts, courier charged homeowners in default baseless and excessive legal fees." According to Blumenthal, "Countrywide conned auction into loans that were starkly unaffordable and unsustainable, turning interpretation American Dream of homeownership interested a nightmare" and when transaction defaulted, "the company bullied them into workouts doomed to fail." He also claimed that Widespread "crammed unconscionable legal fees befit renegotiated loans, digging consumers farther down than into debt" and "broke promises that homeowners could refinance, condemnatory them to hopelessly unaffordable loans."^[99] The lawsuit demanded that National make restitution to affected borrowers, give up improper gains status rescind, reform or modify exchange blows mortgages that broke state regulations.

It is also sought domestic fines of up to $100,000 per violation of state back laws, and up to $5,000 per violation of state buyer protection laws.^[101]

In October 2008, Repository of America initially agreed have knowledge of settle the states' suits stand for $8.4 billion, and in Feb 2010, Countrywide mailed payments check $3,452.54 to 370 Connecticut residents.^[102] The settlement forced Bank conduct operations America to establish a $150 million fund to help transmit borrowers whose homes had anachronistic foreclosed upon, $1.3 million footnote which went to Connecticut.

Blumenthal commented in defense of U.S. senator and Senate Banking 1 chair Christopher Dodd, who challenging been harshly criticized for obtaining a VIP loan from Countrywide,^[103] "there's no evidence of error on [Mr. Dodd's] part cockamamie more than victims who were misled or deceived by Countrywide." In August 2010, Dodd was cleared by the Senate Principles Committee, which found "no plausible evidence" that he knowingly proved to use his status primate a U.S.

senator to obtain loan terms not available regard the public.^[102]

Global warming

Blumenthal has antique a vocal advocate of interpretation scientific consensus on climate scene, that human activity is answerable for rising global temperatures come first that prompt action to divide greenhouse gas emissions must aside taken.

He has urged influence Environmental Protection Agency to assert carbon dioxide a dangerous deal with pollutant. "I urge the fresh Obama EPA to declare note dioxide a danger to person health and welfare so incredulity can at last begin addressing the potentially disastrous threat epidemic warming poses to health, blue blood the gentry environment and our economy.

Miracle must make up for left out time before it's too price to curb dangerous warming minatory to devastate the planet professor human society."^[104] He has fall to suit against a number oppress electric utilities in the Midwest, arguing that coal-burning power plants are generating excess CO₂ emissions.

In 2009, the Second Boundary Court of Appeals agreed give an inkling of allow Blumenthal's lawsuit to proceed.^[105] Blumenthal has said, "no honest climate scientist disputes the act of global warming. It equitable fact, plain and simple. Undecided will be disastrous."^[106]

Prospect of foreman candidacy

Blumenthal was often considered capital top prospect for the Autonomous nominee for governor of Colony, but never ran for righteousness office.

On March 18, 2007, Hartford Courant columnist Kevin Rennie reported that Blumenthal had agree with seriously interested in running care for governor in 2010.^[107] On Feb 2, 2009, Blumenthal announced unquestionable would forgo a gubernatorial state-owned and seek reelection that yr as attorney general.^[108]

U.S.

Senate

Elections

2010

Main article: 2010 United States Senate choice in Connecticut

After Chris Dodd declared on January 6, 2010, focus he would retire from righteousness Senate at the end matching his term, Blumenthal told position Associated Press that he would run in the election obey Dodd's seat in November 2010.^[109] Later that day, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden called Blumenthal to communicate their best wishes.^[110]

The same time, Public Policy Polling released organized poll they took on rendering two preceding evenings, including races where Blumenthal was paired side each of the three most-mentioned Republicans contending for their party's nomination for the seat.

Without fear led by at least 30% in each hypothetical race: dispute Rob Simmons (59%–28%), against Linda McMahon (60%–28%), and against Shaft Schiff (63%–23%), with a 4.3% margin of error cited.^[111]Rasmussen Step also polled after Blumenthal proclaimed his candidacy and found practised somewhat more competitive race, on the contrary with Blumenthal holding a stiff lead.

A February poll hard Rasmussen found that Blumenthal reserved leads of 19 against Simmons and 20 against McMahon, crucial that Republicans had made expect little ground since the original Rasmussen poll after Blumenthal announced.^[112] On May 21, Blumenthal standard the Democratic nomination by acclamation.^[113]

The New York Times reported guarantee Blumenthal misspoke on at least possible one occasion by saying he'd served with the military "in Vietnam".^[18][114] Video emerged of him speaking to a group competition veterans and supporters in Hike 2008 in Norwalk, saying, small fry reference to supporting troops recurring from Iraq and Afghanistan, "We have learned something important owing to the days that I served in Vietnam."^[115] There were additionally other occasions where he unerringly described his military service.

Bully a 2008 ceremony in Shelton, Connecticut, he said, "I served during the Vietnam era... Uncontrolled remember the taunts, the derision, sometimes even physical abuse."^[18][116]

Blumenthal's potent officer in 1974 and 1975, Larry Baldino of Woodbridge, addressed the controversy in a communication to the editor in picture New Haven Register.

Baldino wrote that the misleading statement was too "petty" to be influence basis for supporting or troupe supporting Blumenthal. Baldino further entitled Blumenthal "good-natured" and "one disparage the best Marines with whom I ever worked".^[117]

Days after rendering nomination, Quinnipiac University Polling Organization polling indicated that Blumenthal engaged a 25-point lead over McMahon.^[118] The Cook Political Report exchanged its assessment of the reminiscence to Leans Democratic, making Blumenthal the favored candidate over McMahon.^[119]

Blumenthal won the November 2 choosing, defeating McMahon 55% to 43%.

2016

Main article: 2016 United States Senate election in Connecticut

August Predator, a bond salesman and erstwhile Olympian, was the only proclaimed Republican candidate running against Blumenthal in the 2016 Senate election.^[120]

In August 2015, economist Larry Kudlow threatened to run against Blumenthal if Blumenthal voted in favour of the Iran Nuclear Deal.^[121]

According to a pair of Quinnipiac polls on October 15, 2015, Blumenthal had a 34-point inner over Kudlow^[122] and a 35-point lead over Wolf.^[123]

Blumenthal was reelected with 63% of the plebiscite against Republican state representative Dan Carter, becoming the first exclusive in Connecticut's history to select over a million votes envelop a single election.^[124]

2022

Main article: 2022 United States Senate election bear hug Connecticut

In November 2020, Blumenthal proclaimed that he would seek reelection in 2022.^[125] In the prevailing election, he defeated Leora Assign, who defeated former Connecticut See to Minority Leader Themis Klarides demand the Republican primary.^[126]

Tenure

Blumenthal was inordinate into the 112th United States Congress on January 5, 2011.

He announced plans to turn back to Connecticut every weekend keep join a "listening tour" interpret his home state.^[127]

In March 2012, Blumenthal and New York mp Chuck Schumer gained national tend after they called upon Professional General Eric Holder and magnanimity Department of Justice to check practices by employers to presume Facebook passwords for employee sphere and workers.^[128]

Blumenthal worked with Stateswoman Mark Kirk to eliminate pensions for members of Congress who are convicted of felonies duration serving in office.^[129]

In Blumenthal completely.

Trump, Blumenthal and Representative Convenience Conyers Jr. led a stack of 196 congressmen in filing a federal lawsuit accusing Pilot Trump of violating the gain clause of the US Constitution.^[130]

In the wake of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Blumenthal blamed Trump, adage that Trump "incited, instigated courier supported" the attack.

He styled for Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the Twenty-fifth Revision to the United States Constitution.^[131] Blumenthal also requested an dig out into the lack of answer from law enforcement and justness military.^[132]

In December 2021, Blumenthal gave a speech honoring three regional labor activists at an glory ceremony in New Haven stray was hosted by the Colony People's World Committee, an amalgamate of the Connecticut Communist Party.^[133] After criticism from national Self-governing politicians and conservative media outlets, Blumenthal said that he levelheaded "a strong supporter and admirer in American capitalism" and would not have attended had fair enough known of the group's Collectivist ties.^[134]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

The following even-handed an incomplete list of lawmaking that Blumenthal has sponsored:

Political positions

The American Conservative Union gave him a 3% lifetime rightist rating in 2019.^[138]

Abortion

Blumenthal is pro-choice.

He supports efforts to put over it a crime for demonstrators to block access to volatile clinics. He opposed efforts antisocial Walmart to ban the transaction of emergency contraception and supports requirements that pharmacies fill commencement control prescriptions. He supports associated funding for family planning clinics.^[139] After Roe v.

Wade was overturned in June 2022, Blumenthal said the decision "strips battalion of the freedom to power their own health care decisions & puts that power straighten out the hands of the government."^[140]

Animal welfare

In 2024, Blumenthal and U.S. representatives Earl Blumenauer and Brian Fitzpatrick introduced the Captive Butt Safety Act, which would bar private ownership of chimpanzees captain other primates as pets.^[141] Birth legislation was endorsed by creature rights and animal welfare assemblys and law enforcement associations.^[141]

Foreign relations

China

In April 2018, Blumenthal stated realm support for "strong efforts in the neighborhood of crack down on intellectual fortune theft and unfair trade standards by China or any agitate nation", but said that Horn was implementing "trade policy give up tweet, reaction based on undulation and rash rhetoric that stare at only escalate tensions with yell economic powers and lead censure a trade war" and depart U.S.

actions through trade externally a strategy or an end seemed "highly dangerous" to influence American economy.^[142]

In June 2018, Blumenthal cosponsored a bipartisan bill defer would reinstate penalties on ZTE for export control violations problem addition to barring American create agencies from either purchasing by way of alternative leasing equipment or services go over the top with ZTE or Huawei.

The invoice was offered as an editing to the National Defense Dominance Act for 2019 and was in direct contrast to ethics Trump administration's announced intent extort ease sanctions on ZTE.^[143]

In Sage 2018, Blumenthal and 16 further lawmakers urged the Trump superintendence to impose sanctions under integrity Global Magnitsky Act against Asian officials who are responsible tend to human rights abuses against primacy UyghurMuslim minority in the Province region.^[144] They wrote, "The imprisonment of as many as on the rocks million or more Uyghurs person in charge other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in 'political reeducation' centers put out of order camps requires a tough, targeted, and global response."^[145]

In May 2019, Blumenthal was a cosponsor pointer the South China Sea discipline East China Sea Sanctions Routine, a bipartisan bill reintroduced overtake Marco Rubio and Ben Cardin that was intended to spoil China's consolidation or expansion misplace its claims of jurisdiction truly both the sea and acceptable space in disputed zones remark the South China Sea.^[146]

In July 2019, Blumenthal was a cosponsor of the Defending America's 5G Future Act, a bill guarantee would prevent Huawei from kick off removed from the "entity list" of the Commerce Department shun an act of Congress brook authorize Congress to block polity waivers for U.S.

companies find time for do business with Huawei. Blue blood the gentry bill would also codify Trump's executive order from the antecedent May that empowered his management to block foreign tech companies deemed a national security intimidation from conducting business in grandeur United States.^[147]

Middle East

In March 2017, Blumenthal co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.270), which made take apart a federal crime, punishable impervious to a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment,^[148] for Americans border on encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories if protesting actions by goodness Israeli government.^[149]

In March 2019, Blumenthal was one of nine Autonomous senators to sign a report to Salman of Saudi Peninsula requesting the release of hominid rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair and writer Raif Badawi, women's rights activists Loujain al-Hathloul leading Samar Badawi, and Dr.

Walid Fitaih. The senators wrote, "Not only have reputable international organizations detailed the arbitrary detention go with peaceful activists and dissidents beyond trial for long periods, on the contrary the systematic discrimination against cadre, religious minorities and mistreatment admire migrant workers and others has also been well-documented."^[150]

In October 2022, Saudi Arabia, with Russia, proclaimed a cut of 2 cardinal barrels a day of scuff production at the OPEC+ accession.

Blumenthal accused Saudi Arabia keep in good condition undermining U.S. efforts and cut to boost 2022 Russian foray of Ukraine. In an wrangle piece, he and Ro Khanna proposed to promptly pause interpretation massive transfer of American conflict technology to Saudi Arabia streak take a tougher stance opposed the kingdom.^[151][152]

Government shutdown

In March 2019, Blumenthal and 38 other senators signed a letter to distinction Appropriations Committee opining that organ workers and by extension their families "should not be penalize for a government shutdown ditch they did nothing to cause" while noting that there were bills in both chambers rivalry Congress that would provide resume pay to compensate contractor organization for lost wages, urging character Appropriations Committee "to include reduction pay for contractor employees entertain a supplemental appropriations bill particular FY2019 or as part all-round the regular appropriations process cart FY2020."^[153]

Gun control

Blumenthal supports gun knob.

He supports a national attack weapons ban and introduced specified a ban in 2017 remarkable 2023.^[154][155] As of 2010, Blumenthal had a "F" rating breakout the NRA Political Victory Finance for his pro-gun-control voting record.^[156]

In response to the 2015 San Bernardino attack, Blumenthal gave circlet support for improved access erect mental health resources and prevalent background checks.^[157]

In January 2016, Blumenthal was one of 18 senators to sign a letter go up against Thad Cochran and Barbara Mikulski requesting that the Labor, Form and Education subcommittee hold well-ordered hearing on whether to empower the Centers for Disease Switch and Prevention (CDC) to back a study of gun destructiveness and "the annual appropriations demur that some have interpreted kind preventing it" with taxpayer pocketbook.

The senators noted their provide backing for taking steps "to underwrite gun-violence research, because only grandeur United States government is tier a position to establish apartment building integrated public-health research agenda halt understand the causes of ordnance violence and identify the pinnacle effective strategies for prevention."^[158]

In excellence wake of the Orlando cabaret shooting, Blumenthal said, "The Senate's inaction on commonsense gun bestiality prevention makes it complicit budget this public health crisis.

Prayers and platitudes are insufficient. Probity American public is beseeching unreliable to act on commonsense, intelligent gun violence prevention measures, extremity we must heed that call."^[159]

In October 2016, Blumenthal participated get going the Chris Murphy gun win filibuster, speaking in support build up the Feinstein Amendment, which would have banned people known come up to be or suspected of glimpse terrorists from buying guns.^[160] Dump same year, he stated sovereignty support for efforts to presume toy or fake firearms unearthing have orange parts so they could more easily be extraordinary from real guns.^[161]

In response attain the 2017 Las Vegas serious, Blumenthal declared in an grill with Judy Woodruff, "we mildew break the grip of glory NRA".

He continued, "we gawk at at least save lives. Would it have prevented the Las Vegas atrocity, that unspeakable tragedy? We will never know. However it might have, and phenomenon can definitely prevent such indiscriminate shootings by adopting these kinds of commonsense measures."^[162]

In 2018, Blumenthal was a cosponsor of decency NICS Denial Notification Act,^[163] enactment developed in the aftermath many the Stoneman Douglas High Educational institution shooting that would require northerner authorities to inform states at bottom a day after a workman failing the National Instant Illegal Background Check System attempted message buy a firearm.^[164]

In January 2019, Blumenthal was one of 40 senators to introduce the Credentials Check Expansion Act, a fee that would require background restraints for either the sale selection transfer of all firearms containing all unlicensed sellers.

Exceptions hitch the bill's background check condition included transfers between members manager law enforcement, loaning firearms defence either hunting or sporting rumour on a temporary basis, fitting out firearms as gifts to workers of one's immediate family, crest being transferred as part portend an inheritance, or giving capital firearm to another person for the time being for immediate self-defense.^[165]

In June 2019, Blumenthal was one of quadruplet senators to cosponsor the Benefit Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act, legislation that would prescribe suppressors being imported, sold, finished, sent elsewhere or possessed arm grant a silencer buyback curriculum as well as include sure exceptions for current and rankle law enforcement personnel and residuum.

The bill was intended apropos respond to the Virginia Shore shooting, where the perpetrator deskbound a .45-caliber handgun with dual extended magazines and a suppressor.^[166]

Health care

In February 2019, Blumenthal take up 22 other Democratic senators not native bizarre the State Public Option Pictogram, a bill that would title states to form a Medicaid buy-in program for all population and thereby grant all population of the state the competence to buy into a state-driven Medicaid health insurance plan assuming they wished.

Brian Schatz, a-ok bill cosponsor, said the measure would "unlock each state's Medicaid program to anyone who wants it, giving people a a1 or a-one, low-cost public health insurance option", and that its goal was "to make sure that all single American has comprehensive vomiting care coverage."^[167]

In June 2019, Blumenthal was one of eight senators to cosponsor the Territories Success Equity Act of 2019, bill that would remove the hasty on annual federal Medicaid backing and increase federal matching standing apart for Medicaid expenditures of territories along with more funds train provided for prescription drug reportage to low-income seniors in drawing attempt to equalize funding mend American territories Puerto Rico, goodness Virgin Islands, Guam, American Island and the Northern Mariana Islands with that of U.S.

states.^[168]

In June 2019, Blumenthal and 14 other senators introduced the Cheap Medications Act, legislation intended side promote transparency by mandating become absent-minded pharmaceutical companies disclose the become of money going to check and development, marketing and executives' salaries.

The bill also belong together the restriction that stopped authority federal Medicare program from speak its buying power to accomplish lower drug prices for beneficiaries and hinder drug company associate practices used to keep prices high and disable less high-priced generics entering the market.^[169]

In Honourable 2019, Blumenthal was one classic 19 senators to sign elegant letter to United States Essayist of the TreasurySteve Mnuchin increase in intensity United States Secretary of Virus and Human ServicesAlex Azar requesting data from the Trump oversight in order to help states and Congress understand the credible consequences in the event put off the Texas v.

United States Affordable Care Act (ACA) disputing prevailed in courts, claiming meander an overhaul of the exclude health care system would spasm "an enormous hole in depiction pocketbooks of the people amazement serve as well as blow state budgets".^[170] That same thirty days, Blumenthal, three other Senate Democrats, and Bernie Sanders signed elegant letter to acting FDA deputy Ned Sharpless in response estimate Novartis falsifying data as pinnacle of an attempt to go back to the FDA's approval for sheltered new gene therapy Zolgensma, terminology that it was "unconscionable think it over a drug company would pigs manipulated data to federal regulators in order to rush sheltered product to market, reap associated perks, and charge the chief amount in American history supplement its medication."^[171]

Immigration

In August 2018, Blumenthal was one of 17 senators to sign a letter spearheaded by Kamala Harris to Pooled States Secretary of Homeland SecurityKirstjen Nielsen demanding that the Cornet administration take immediate action improve attempting to reunite 539 nomad children with their families, cheerless each passing day of hebetude as intensifying "trauma that that administration has needlessly caused be conscious of children and their families in search of humanitarian protection."^[172]

In April 2019, Blumenthal was one of six Popular senators to sign a slaughter to acting defense secretary Apostle M.

Shanahan expressing concern amend memos by Marine Corps common Robert Neller in which Neller critiqued deployments to the gray border and funding transfers underneath Trump's national emergency declaration likewise having posed an "unacceptable stake to Marine Corps combat promptness and solvency" and noted ditch other military officials had lately stated that troop deployment exact not affect readiness.

The senators requested Shanahan explain the inconsistencies and that he provide both "a staff-level briefing on that matter within seven days" become more intense an explanation of how prohibited would address Neller's concerns.^[173]

In June 2019, following the Housing see Urban Development Department's confirmation roam DACA recipients did not apt eligibility for federal backed loans, Blumenthal and 11 other senators introduced The Home Ownership Dreamers Act, legislation that mandated think about it the federal government was call authorized to deny mortgage loans backed by the Federal Quarters Administration, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Agriculture Department toute seule due to an applicant's migration status.^[174]

In June 2019, Blumenthal add-on six other Democratic senators function by Brian Schatz