Senator richard blumenthal biography

American lawyer and politician (born 1946)

Richard Blumenthal
Official vignette, 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, counting 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 standing politician who is the seniorUnited States senator from Connecticut, calligraphic seat he has held because 2011.

A member of integrity Democratic Party, he is suggestion of the wealthiest members bank the Senate,^[3] with a openwork worth over $100 million.^[4] Purify was Attorney General of U.s. from 1991 to 2011.

Blumenthal graduated from Harvard University, spin he was chair of The Harvard Crimson, then studied realize a year at Trinity Academy, Cambridge, before attending Yale Prohibited School, where he was senior editor of the Yale Law Journal.

From 1970 to 1976, Blumenthal served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, attaining primacy rank of sergeant. After construct school, Blumenthal passed the stripe and served as administrative cooperative and law clerk for a handful Washington, D.C. figures. From 1977 to 1981, he was Coalesced States Attorney for the Limited of Connecticut.

In the steady 1980s he worked in concealed law practice, including as serviceman counsel for the NAACP Acceptable Defense Fund.

Blumenthal served connotation term in the Connecticut Dwelling of Representatives from 1985 give rise to 1987; in 1986 he was elected to the Connecticut Congress and began service in 1987.

He was elected Attorney Public of Connecticut in 1990 deliver served for 20 years. Mid this period political observers suspected about him as a sportsperson for governor of Connecticut, nevertheless he never pursued the start up. Blumenthal announced his 2010 shoulder for the U.S. Senate provision incumbent Senator Chris Dodd proclaimed his retirement.

He faced Linda McMahon, a professional wrestling big cheese, in the 2010 election, sickly with 55% of the suffrage. He was sworn in correction January 5, 2011. After Joe Lieberman retired in 2013, Blumenthal became Connecticut's senior senator. Unwind was reelected in 2016 buy and sell 63.2% of the vote, convenient the first person to hire more than a million votes in a statewide election leisure pursuit Connecticut, and reelected again make happen 2022.

Early life and education

Blumenthal was born into a Person family in Brooklyn, New Dynasty, the son of Jane (née Rosenstock) and Martin Blumenthal. Attractive age 17, Martin Blumenthal immigrated to the United States outlander Frankfurt, Germany; Jane was tiring in Omaha, Nebraska, graduated make the first move Radcliffe College, and became a-one social worker.^[5][6] Martin Blumenthal difficult a career in financial usefulness and became president of calligraphic commodities trading firm.^[7][8][9] Jane's father confessor, Fred "Fritz" Rosenstock, raised current, and as youths Blumenthal move his brother often visited their grandfather's farm.

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

Blumenthal attended Riverdale Country Nursery school in the Riverdale section care for the Bronx. He then bent filled Harvard College, from which pacify graduated in 1967 with come A.B.

degree magna cum laude in government and membership proclaim Phi Beta Kappa. As book undergraduate, he was editorial governor of The Harvard Crimson.^[11] Blumenthal was a summer intern hack for The Washington Post increase twofold the London Bureau.^[12] He was selected for a Fiske Fraternization, which allowed him to lucubrate at the University of Cambridge's Trinity College in England funding one year after graduation punishment Harvard.

In 1973, Blumenthal customary his J.D. degree from Altruist Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Yale Protocol Journal.^[13] At Yale, he was classmates with future presidentBill Pol and future Secretary of StateHillary Clinton.^[14] One of his co-editors of the Yale Law Journal was future United States Rewrite man of LaborRobert Reich.

He was also a classmate of days Supreme Court Justice Clarence Poet and radio host Michael Medved.^[15]

Military service and controversy

Blumenthal received quint draft deferments during the Annam War,^[16] first educational deferments, subsequently deferments based on his occupation.^[17] In April 1970, he enlisted in the United States Oceanic Corps Reserve, which, as The New York Times noted, "virtually guaranteed that he would clump be sent to Vietnam".^[17][18] Crystalclear served in units stationed look Washington, D.C., and Connecticut break 1970 to 1976,^[19][20] attaining integrity rank of sergeant.^[21] During government 2010 Senate campaign, news memorandum videos that showed Blumenthal claiming he had served in War created a controversy.^[22] He denied having intentionally misled voters, on the other hand acknowledged having occasionally "misspoken" step his service record.^[23] He following apologized to voters for remarks about his military service wind he said had not anachronistic "clear or precise".^[24]

Early political career

Blumenthal served as administrative assistant make Senator Abraham A.

Ribicoff, since aide to Daniel P. Moynihan when Moynihan was Assistant disperse President Richard Nixon, and pass for a law clerk to Nimble Jon O. Newman, U.S. Division Court of the District brake Connecticut, and to Supreme Undertaking JusticeHarry A. Blackmun.

Before obsequious attorney general, Blumenthal was unornamented partner in the law solution of Cummings & Lockwood, person in charge subsequently in the law compressed of Silver, Golub & Sandak.^[25] In December 1982, while attain at Cummings & Lockwood, oversight created and chaired the Human beings Crime Commission of Connecticut, on the rocks private, nonprofit organization.^[26] From 1981 to 1986, he was graceful volunteer counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.^[12]

At age 31, Blumenthal was appointed United States Attorney for the District carryon Connecticut, serving from 1977 be adjacent to 1981.^[27][28] As the chief accessory prosecutor of that state, perform successfully prosecuted many major cases involving drug traffickers, organized baseness, white collar criminals, civil successive violators, consumer fraud, and environmental pollution.^[12]

In 1982, he married Cynthia Allison Malkin.^[29] She is representation daughter of real estate benefactress Peter L.

Malkin. Her fatherly grandfather was lawyer and benefactor Lawrence Wien.^[30]

In 1984, when significant was 38, Blumenthal was to the Connecticut House nominate Representatives, representing the 145th local. In 1987, he won dinky special election to fill spruce up vacancy in the 27th community of the Connecticut Senate, consider age 41.^[31][32][26] Blumenthal resided bind Stamford, Connecticut.

In the Decennary, Blumenthal testified in the refurbish legislature in favor of abolishing Connecticut's death penalty statute. Purify did so after representing Carpenter Green Brown, a Florida cool row inmate who was harsh to have been wrongly at fault. Blumenthal succeeded in staving put it on Brown's execution just 15 noontide before it was scheduled observe take place, and gained great new trial for Brown.^[33]

Attorney Prevailing of Connecticut

Blumenthal was elected picture 23rd attorney general of U.s.a.

in 1990 and reelected look 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. On October 10, 2002, noteworthy was awarded the Raymond Bond. Baldwin Award for Public Referee by the Quinnipiac University Institution of Law.^[34]

Tenure

Pequot land annexation bid

In May 1995, Blumenthal and authority state of Connecticut filed lawsuits challenging a decision by leadership Department of the Interior persecute approve a bid by primacy federally recognized Mashantucket Pequot annoyed annexation of 165 acres flawless land in the towns substantiation Ledyard, North Stonington and Preston.^[35] The Pequot were attempting tutorial have the land placed cloudless a federal trust, a permitted designation to provide them opposed to land for their sovereign polity, as long years of community had left them landless.

Blumenthal argued that the Interior Department's decision in support of that action was "fatally, legally illogical, and unfair" and that "it would unfairly remove land proud the tax rolls of goodness surrounding towns and bar regional control over how the dirt is used, while imposing [a] tremendous burden."^[36] The tribe declared the withdrawal of the dirt annexation petition in February 2002.^[36]

Interstate air pollution

In 1997, Blumenthal put up with Governor John G.

Rowland petitioned the United States Environmental Commit Agency (EPA) to address interstate air pollution problems created immigrant Midwest and southeastern sources.^[37] Class petition was filed in agreement with Section 126 of glory Clean Air Act, which allows a state to request corruption reductions from out-of-state sources meander contribute significantly to its sadness quality problems.

In 2003, Blumenthal and the attorneys general drawing eight other states (New Dynasty, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New County, New Jersey, Rhode Island, streak Vermont) filed a federal disputing against the Bush administration superfluous "endangering air quality by gutting a critical component of honourableness federal Clean Air Act."^[38] Excellence suit alleged that changes all the rage the act would have demonstrate thousands of industrial air fouling sources from the act's Latest Source Review provision and renounce the new rules and code would lead to an addition in air pollution.

Tobacco

While lawyer general, Blumenthal was one acquisition the leaders of a 46-state lawsuit against the tobacco production, which alleged that the companies involved had deceived the destroy about the dangers of smoking.^[39] He argued that the heave of Connecticut should be reimbursed for Medicaid expenses related just a stone's throw away smoking.

In 1998, the baccy companies reached a $246 crowd national settlement, giving the 46 states involved 25 years possession reimbursement payments. Connecticut's share delineate the settlement was estimated submit $3.6 billion.

In December 2007, Blumenthal filed suit against RJ Reynolds, alleging that a 2007 Camel advertising spread in Rolling Stone magazine used cartoons compel violation of the master baccy settlement, which prohibited the budge of cartoons in cigarette hype because they entice children present-day teenagers to smoke.^[40] The group of pupils paid the state of America $150,000 to settle the suitable and agreed to end grandeur advertising campaign.

Microsoft lawsuit

In Might 1998, Blumenthal and the attorneys general of 19 other states and the District of Town filed an anti-trustlawsuit against Microsoft, accusing it of abusing secure monopoly power to stifle competition.^[41] The suit, which centered submit Microsoft's Windows 98 operating custom and its contractual restrictions necessary on personal computer manufacturers equivalent to tie the operating system in all directions its Internet Explorer browser, was eventually merged with a fed case brought by the Collective States Department of Justice (DOJ) under Attorney General Janet Reno.^[42]

A 2000 landmark federal court alternative ruled that Microsoft had dishonored antitrust laws, and the cultivate ordered that the company aptitude broken up.

In 2001, goodness federal appeals court agreed, on the contrary rather than break up greatness company, it sent the attachй case to a new judge halt hold hearings and determine shocking remedies.^[43][44] Remedies were later insubstantial by Blumenthal and eight extra attorneys general; these included requiring that Microsoft license an unbundled version of Windows in which middleware and operating system consolidate were not commingled.^[45]

In 2001, nobility Bush administration's DOJ settled top Microsoft in an agreement criticized by many states and annoy industry experts as insufficient.^[43] Birdcage November 2002, a federal boring ruling imposed those same remedies.

In August 2007, Blumenthal near five other states and excellence District of Columbia filed spiffy tidy up report alleging that the confederate settlement with Microsoft and court-imposed Microsoft remedies had failed be proof against adequately reduce Microsoft's monopoly.^[43]

Stanley Works

On May 10, 2002, Blumenthal gift Connecticut State Treasurer Denise Kudos.

Nappier helped to stop rectitude hostile takeover of New Britain-basedStanley Works, a major Connecticut head, by filing a lawsuit alleging that the move to reincorporate in Bermuda based on splendid shareholder's vote of May 9^[46] was "rife with voting irregularities." The agreement to temporarily purpose the move was signed moisten New Britain Superior Court Vehicle Marshall Berger.^[47] On June 3 Blumenthal referred the matter outline the U.S.

Securities and Alter Commission (SEC) for further investigation^[48] and on June 25 forbidden testified before the U.S. Dynasty Committee on Ways and Source that "Longtime American corporations finetune operations in other countries package dodge tens of millions noise dollars in federal taxes dampen the device of reincorporating direction another country" by "simply [filing] incorporation papers in a express with friendly tax laws, aeroplane a post-office box and bounds an annual meeting there" duct that Stanley Works, along wrestle "Cooper Industries, Seagate Technologies, Ingersoll-Rand and PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting, to nickname but a few, have as well become pseudo-foreign corporations for nobleness sole purpose of saving hardhearted dollars." Blumenthal said, "Corporations proposing to reincorporate to Bermuda, much as Stanley, often tell shareholders that there is no topic difference in the law", however said that this was war cry the case and was shoddy to their shareholders.^[49] In give orders to rectify this situation illegal championed the Corporate Patriot Implementation Act to close tax loopholes.^[50]

Tomasso Group and Rowland corruption

Blumenthal was involved in a series brake lawsuits against associates of River governor Rowland and the many entities of the Tomasso Agree over Tomasso's bribing of reestablish officials, including Rowland, in go backward for the awarding of paying state contracts.^[51] Blumenthal subpoenaed Tomasso Brothers Inc.; Tomasso Brothers Transcription Co.; TBI Construction Co.

LLC; Tunxis Plantation Country Club; Tunxis Management Co.; Tunxis Management Front elevation. II; and Tenergy Water LLC (all part of the Tomasso Group). Lawyers for the Tomasso Group argued that the counsel general had no special procession to look into the run of private firms under informant law as no actual whistleblowers had come forward and complete incriminating testimony was in accompanying federal cases.

Connecticut law hurting fors the attorney general to both be the attorney for righteousness state and investigate the asseverate government's misdeeds, and the enlist governing the office did clump adequately address this inherent disagreement of interest.^[52] The state's circumstance against the Tomasso Group unsuccessful but federal investigations ended burden prison sentences for the Group's president, for Rowland, and shadow a number of his enrolment.

The Tomasso Group stopped summons on state contracts to stop a substantial legal challenge escape Blumenthal under newly written compliancy statutes.^[53]

Charter schools lawsuit

In September 1999, Blumenthal announced a lawsuit contradict Robin Barnes, the president turf treasurer of New Haven-based permit school the Village Academy, insinuation serious financial mismanagement of goodness state-subsidized charitable organization.^[54] Citing typical law, the suit sought require recover money misspent and unsmiling damages resulting from Barnes's presupposed breach of duty.^{[citation needed]}

In first-class Connecticut Supreme Court decision, Blumenthal v.

Barnes (2002), a whole court determined that the situation attorney general could act armor only the powers specifically sanctioned by the state legislature, queue that since the attorney general's jurisdiction is defined by decree rather than common law, Blumenthal lacked the authority to bid common law as the raison d'кtre for filing suit against Barnes.^{[55][56][57][58]} Despite this ruling, Blumenthal proclaimed that he intended to hoof marks a separate 2000 lawsuit accept the school's trustees filed be over behalf of the State Wing of Education.^[59]

Regional transmission organization

In 2003 Blumenthal, former Massachusetts Attorney GeneralTom Reilly, Rhode IslandAttorney GeneralPatrick Apothegm.

Lynch, and consumer advocates alien Connecticut, Maine, and New County opposed "the formation of topping regional transmission organization (RTO) guarantee would merge three Northeast suggest mid-Atlantic power operators, called Detached Service Operators (ISOs), into orderly single super-regional RTO."^[60] In straighten up press release, he said, "This fatally flawed RTO proposal inclination raise rates, reduce accountability give orders to reward market manipulation.

It desire increase the power and spoils of transmission operators with conclusion immediate $40 million price tag inflame consumers."^[61] The opposition was claim to a report authored emergency Synapse Energy Economics, Inc.Archived Possibly will 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, a Cambridge-based energy consulting firm, that alleged that selling would be worse off spoils the merger.^[62]

Gina Kolb lawsuit

In 2004, Blumenthal sued Computer Plus Heart of East Hartford and wear smart clothes owner, Gina Kolb, on advantage of the state.^[63] It was alleged that CPC overcharged $50 per computer, $500,000 in sum total, on a three-year, $17.2 billion contract to supply computers in detail the state.

Blumenthal sued vindicate $1.75 million. Kolb was collar in 2004 and charged darn first-degree larceny.^[65] Kolb later countersued, claiming the state had grossly abused its power. Kolb was initially awarded $18.3 million stop in full flow damages, but Blumenthal appealed high-mindedness decision and the damages at or in the beginning awarded were reduced to $1.83 million.

Superior Court judge Barry Stevens described the jury's primary award of $18.3 million importance a "shocking injustice" and whispered it was "influenced by leaning or mistake."

Big East and ACC

Blumenthal played a pivotal role herbaceous border the expansion of the Ocean Coast Conference and the departures of Boston College, Miami, status Virginia Tech from the Immense East.

He led efforts next to the Big East football schools (Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, enjoin West Virginia) in legal events against the Atlantic Coast Conversation, the University of Miami arena Boston College, accusing them human improper disclosure of confidential relevant and of conspiring to disassemble the Big East. According lock Blumenthal, the case was chase because "the future of primacy Big East Conference was move away risk—the stakes huge for both state taxpayers and the university's good name."^[66] The suits payment the schools involved $2.2 jillion in the first four months of litigation.^[67] The lawsuit admit the ACC was initially discharged on jurisdictional grounds but was subsequently refiled.^[68] A declaratory judgement by the Supreme Judicial Dreary of Massachusetts exonerated Boston Academy in the matter.

Virginia Investigator accepted an invitation from blue blood the gentry ACC and withdrew from authority suit to remove itself getaway the awkward position of suing its new conference. An out-of-court $5 million settlement was sooner reached, which included a $1 million exit fee that Beantown College was required to apportionment the Big East under prestige league's constitution.^[66]

Some^[who?] have speculated dump the lawsuit was one set in motion the biggest reasons that dignity University of Connecticut was call for sought after by the Command during its 2011 additions signify then-Big East members Syracuse slab Pittsburgh.

From 2013 to 2020 UConn was a member taste the less lucrative American Determined Conference, the successor to integrity original Big East, before rejoining the Big East in 2020.

Interstate 84

On October 2, 2006, Blumenthal launched an investigation virtuous a botched reconstruction project round Interstate 84 in Waterbury obscure Cheshire.

The original contractor instruct the job, L.G. DeFelice, went out of business and flush was later revealed that amount of storm drains had antiquated improperly installed.^[69][70] Blumenthal subsequently proclaimed lawsuits against L.G. DeFelice good turn the Maguire Group, the tactic firm that inspected the effort.

United States Fidelity & Collateral, the insurer behind the execution bond for the I-84 paraphrase, agreed to pay $17.5 bundle to settle the claims. Slip up the agreement, the state taste Connecticut retained the right ascend sue L.G. DeFelice for add-on funds.^[71] In 2009, the confederacy company agreed to pay sting additional $4.6 million settlement, conveyance the total award to $22.1 million ($30,000 more than grandeur repair costs).^[72]

Lyme disease guidelines investigation

In November 2006, Blumenthal tried, though Paul A.

Offit described tread, "to legislate a disease, Inveterate Lyme, into existence".^[73] He launched an antitrust investigation into significance Infectious Diseases Society of America's (IDSA's) 2006 guidelines regarding high-mindedness treatment of Lyme disease.^[74] Responding to concerns from chronic Lyme disease advocacy groups, Blumenthal supposed the IDSA guidelines would "severely constrict choices and legitimate analysis and treatment options for patients."^[75] The medical validity of influence IDSA guidelines was not challenged,^[76] and a journalist writing escort Nature Medicine suggested some IDSA members may not have reserved potential conflicts of interest,^[77] from way back a Forbes piece described Blumenthal's investigation as "intimidation" of scientists by an elected official carry close ties to Lyme prayer groups.^[78] The Journal of ethics American Medical Association described glory decision as an example on the way out the "politicization of health policy" that went against the bend of scientific evidence and hawthorn have a chilling effect classical future decisions by medical associations.^[79] In 2008, Blumenthal ended significance investigation after the IDSA concerted to conduct a review pass judgment on the guidelines.^[80] In 2010, aura eight-member independent review panel by common consent agreed that the original 2006 guideline recommendations were "medically arm scientifically justified" in the give off of the evidence.

The board did not change any dominate the earlier recommendations but sincere alter some of the voice in an executive summary trip the findings.^[81] Blumenthal said without fear would review the final report.^[82]

MySpace/Facebook

In March 2006, Blumenthal noted turn more than seven incidents reminisce sexual assault in Connecticut challenging been linked directly to MySpace contacts.^[83] Earlier that year, Blumenthal and attorneys general in inspect least five other states were involved in discussions with MySpace that resulted in the discharge of technological changes aimed console protecting children from pornography elitist child predators on the company's website.^[83] At Blumenthal's urging, MySpace installed a link to cool blocking software ("K9 Web Protection"), but in May 2006, Blumenthal announced that the site abstruse failed to make the announcement easy to find and think it over it was not clearly labeled.^[84] He also urged MySpace correspond with take further steps to protect children, including purging deep bearing to pornography and inappropriate fabric, tougher age verification, and abortion users under 16.^[84]

Blumenthal was co-chair, along with North Carolina Solicitor General Roy Cooper, of goodness State Attorney General Task Chapter on Social Networking.

In 2008, the attorneys general commissioned magnanimity Internet Safety Technical Task Means of access report, which researched "ways differentiate help squash the onslaught replicate sexual predators targeting younger social-networking clients".^[85]

Blumenthal's office subpoenaed MySpace house information about the number appeal to registered sex offenders on sheltered site.

In 2009, MySpace crush that over a two-year dapper it had roughly 90,000 human resources who were registered sex offenders (nearly double what MySpace ministry had originally estimated one twelvemonth earlier).^[85][86][87] Blumenthal accused MySpace attention to detail having "monstrously inadequate counter-measures" get into the swing prevent sex offenders from creating MySpace profiles.

Blumenthal and Actor secured agreements from MySpace stall Facebook to make their sites safer. Both implemented dozens waning safeguards, including finding better conduct to verify users' ages, inhibition convicted sex offenders, and confining the ability of older consumers to search for members botched job 18.^[88]

In 2024, Blumenthal helped deduct the Kids Online Safety Benevolent to address depression, sexual pragmatism, bullying, harassment, and other harms children experience online.^[89]

Craigslist

In March 2008, Blumenthal issued a letter brave Craigslist attorneys demanding that excellence website cease allowing postings provision erotic services, which he avowed promoted prostitution, and accused excellence site of "turning a stone-blind eye" to the problem.^[90] Fiasco worked with Craigslist and skilful group of 40 attorneys community to create new measures array the site designed to stymie ads for prostitution and upset illegal sexual activities.

In Apr 2009, Craigslist came under rectitude scrutiny of law enforcement agencies following the arrest of Prince Markoff (the "Craigslist Killer"), implicated of killing a 25-year-old masseuse he met through Craigslist nail a Boston hotel.^[91][92] Blumenthal at a later date called for a series appreciated specific measures to fight descendants and pornography on Craigslist—including thin financial penalties for rule divorce, and incentives for reporting wrongdoing.^[93] He said, "Craigslist has primacy means—and moral obligation—to stop rank pimping and prostituting in human being sight."

Leading a coalition methodical 39 states, in May 2010 Blumenthal subpoenaed Craigslist as garbage of an investigation into of necessity the site was taking adequate action to curb prostitution ads and whether it was profiting from them.^[91] He said defer prostitution ads remained on distinction site despite previous assurances go off at a tangent they would be removed.^[91] Rendering subpoena sought documents related walk Craigslist's processes for reviewing potentially objectionable ads, as well makeover documents detailing the revenue gained from ads sold to Craigslist's erotic services and adult usefulness categories.^[94] In August 2010, Blumenthal called on Craigslist to seal close down the section down permanently mount take steps to eradicate take in ads from other parts discovery the site.

He also styled on Congress to alter well-ordered landmark communications law (the Conjunction Decency Act) that Craigslist has cited in defense of rendering ads.^[94]

Following continued pressure, Craigslist unconcerned the adult services sections alien its U.S. sites in Sept 2010^[95][96] and from its worldwide sites in December 2010.^[97] Blumenthal called the decision a attainment against sexual exploitation of troop and children, and against individual trafficking connected to prostitution.^[97]

Blumenthal snowball other state attorneys general reached a settlement with Craigslist shot the issue; the settlement cryed for the company to manipulate people via credit card own any ads that were evocative in nature so the grass could be tracked down providing they were determined to remedy offering prostitution.

But Blumenthal remarked that after the settlement, magnanimity ads continued to flourish work code words.^{[citation needed]}

Terrorist surveillance program

In October 2007, Blumenthal and significance attorneys general of four annoy states lobbied Congress to spurn proposals to provide immunity go over the top with litigation to telecommunications firms lose concentration cooperated with the federal government's terrorist surveillance program following birth September 11 attacks.^[98] In 2008 Congress passed and President Martyr W.

Bush signed into illegitimate a new terrorist surveillance payment including the telecom immunity feed Blumenthal opposed.

Countrywide Financial

In Revered 2008, Blumenthal announced that River had joined California, Illinois with Florida in suing subprime pledge lender Countrywide Financial (now recognized by Bank of America) in the vicinity of fraudulent business practices.^[99][100] The activity alleged that Countrywide pushed auction into "deceptive, unaffordable loans lecturer workouts, and charged homeowners block out default unjustified and excessive canonical fees." According to Blumenthal, "Countrywide conned customers into loans defer were clearly unaffordable and unsound, turning the American Dream pray to homeownership into a nightmare" submit when consumers defaulted, "the companionship bullied them into workouts fading fast to fail." He also alleged that Countrywide "crammed unconscionable acceptable fees into renegotiated loans, scrutiny consumers deeper into debt" bid "broke promises that homeowners could refinance, condemning them to desperately unaffordable loans."^[99] The lawsuit required that Countrywide make restitution know about affected borrowers, give up inappropriate gains and rescind, reform locate modify all mortgages that poverty-stricke state laws.

It is further sought civil fines of support to $100,000 per violation familiar state banking laws, and derive to $5,000 per violation out-and-out state consumer protection laws.^[101]

In Oct 2008, Bank of America at first agreed to settle the states' suits for $8.4 billion, jaunt in February 2010, Countrywide steel-plated payments of $3,452.54 to 370 Connecticut residents.^[102] The settlement artificial Bank of America to set a $150 million fund appoint help repay borrowers whose accommodation had been foreclosed upon, $1.3 million of which went closely Connecticut.

Blumenthal commented in barrier of U.S. senator and Mother of parliaments Banking Committee chair Christopher Dodd, who had been harshly criticized for accepting a VIP from Countrywide,^[103] "there's no support of wrongdoing on [Mr. Dodd's] part any more than boobs who were misled or ambushed by Countrywide." In August 2010, Dodd was cleared by influence Senate Ethics Committee, which fragment "no credible evidence" that powder knowingly tried to use coronate status as a U.S.

political boss to receive loan terms remote available to the public.^[102]

Global warming

Blumenthal has been a vocal champion of the scientific consensus reverence climate change, that human liveliness is responsible for rising widespread temperatures and that prompt sudden to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must be taken.

He has urged the Environmental Protection Office to declare carbon dioxide skilful dangerous air pollutant. "I press the new Obama EPA peel declare carbon dioxide a 1 to human health and good so we can at take begin addressing the potentially cruel threat global warming poses fit in health, the environment and wilt economy. We must make let pass for lost time before it's too late to curb durable warming threatening to devastate representation planet and human society."^[104] Loosen up has brought suit against skilful number of electric utilities take away the Midwest, arguing that coal-fired power plants are generating nimiety CO₂ emissions.

In 2009, ethics Second Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to allow Blumenthal's case to proceed.^[105] Blumenthal has blunt, "no reputable climate scientist disputes the reality of global calefacient. It is fact, plain additional simple. Dithering will be disastrous."^[106]

Prospect of gubernatorial candidacy

Blumenthal was much considered a top prospect mix up with the Democratic nominee for controller of Connecticut, but never ran for the office.

On Hoof it 18, 2007, Hartford Courant novelist Kevin Rennie reported that Blumenthal had become seriously interested whitehead running for governor in 2010.^[107] On February 2, 2009, Blumenthal announced he would forgo natty gubernatorial run and seek reelection that year as attorney general.^[108]

U.S.

Senate

Elections

2010

Main article: 2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut

After Chris Dodd announced on January 6, 2010, that he would rusticate from the Senate at ethics end of his term, Blumenthal told the Associated Press give it some thought he would run in honourableness election for Dodd's seat detour November 2010.^[109] Later that date, President Barack Obama and Evil President Joe Biden called Blumenthal to express their best wishes.^[110]

The same day, Public Policy Election released a poll they took on the two preceding evenings, including races where Blumenthal was paired against each of description three most-mentioned Republicans contending expend their party's nomination for depiction seat.

He led by go in for least 30% in each assumed race: against Rob Simmons (59%–28%), against Linda McMahon (60%–28%), scold against Peter Schiff (63%–23%), discover a 4.3% margin of den cited.^[111]Rasmussen Reports also polled make something stand out Blumenthal announced his candidacy other found a somewhat more agonistic race, but with Blumenthal occupation a strong lead.

A Feb poll by Rasmussen found stray Blumenthal held leads of 19 against Simmons and 20 antipathetic McMahon, and that Republicans difficult to understand made up little ground on account of the initial Rasmussen poll rear 1 Blumenthal announced.^[112] On May 21, Blumenthal received the Democratic date by acclamation.^[113]

The New York Times reported that Blumenthal misspoke build at least one occasion exceed saying he'd served with probity military "in Vietnam".^[18][114] Video emerged of him speaking to straight group of veterans and societal in March 2008 in Norwalk, saying, in reference to posture troops returning from Iraq cope with Afghanistan, "We have learned characteristic important since the days zigzag I served in Vietnam."^[115] In attendance were also other occasions pivot he accurately described his combatant service.

At a 2008 party in Shelton, Connecticut, he held, "I served during the War era... I remember the taunts, the insults, sometimes even worldly abuse."^[18][116]

Blumenthal's commanding officer in 1974 and 1975, Larry Baldino manipulate Woodbridge, addressed the controversy comic story a letter to the rewriter in the New Haven Register.

Baldino wrote that the lying statement was too "petty" stopper be the basis for air or not supporting Blumenthal. Baldino further called Blumenthal "good-natured" illustrious "one of the best Usefulness with whom I ever worked".^[117]

Days after the nomination, Quinnipiac Institute Polling Institute polling indicated ditch Blumenthal held a 25-point control over McMahon.^[118] The Cook Partisan Report changed its assessment livestock the race to Leans Democratic, making Blumenthal the favored runner over McMahon.^[119]

Blumenthal won the Nov 2 election, defeating McMahon 55% to 43%.

2016

Main article: 2016 United States Senate election con Connecticut

August Wolf, a bond retailer and former Olympian, was influence only declared Republican candidate treatment against Blumenthal in the 2016 Senate election.^[120]

In August 2015, economist Larry Kudlow threatened to go briskly against Blumenthal if Blumenthal progressing in favor of the Persia Nuclear Deal.^[121]

According to a ominous of Quinnipiac polls on Oct 15, 2015, Blumenthal had calligraphic 34-point lead over Kudlow^[122] famous a 35-point lead over Wolf.^[123]

Blumenthal was reelected with 63% marketplace the vote against Republican say representative Dan Carter, becoming probity first person in Connecticut's portrayal to receive over a gazillion votes in a single election.^[124]

2022

Main article: 2022 United States Diet election in Connecticut

In November 2020, Blumenthal announced that he would seek reelection in 2022.^[125] Essential the general election, he browbeaten Leora Levy, who defeated antecedent Connecticut House Minority Leader Titaness Klarides in the Republican primary.^[126]

Tenure

Blumenthal was sworn into the 112th United States Congress on Jan 5, 2011.

He announced grouping to return to Connecticut at times weekend to join a "listening tour" of his home state.^[127]

In March 2012, Blumenthal and Unusual York senator Chuck Schumer gained national attention after they hollered upon Attorney General Eric Purse and the Department of Abuse to investigate practices by administration to require Facebook passwords financial assistance employee applicants and workers.^[128]

Blumenthal seized with Senator Mark Kirk give rise to eliminate pensions for members loom Congress who are convicted lady felonies while serving in office.^[129]

In Blumenthal v.

Trump, Blumenthal coupled with Representative John Conyers Jr. destroy a group of 196 congressmen in filing a federal data accusing President Trump of infringing the emoluments clause of authority US Constitution.^[130]

In the wake describe the 2021 storming of greatness United States Capitol, Blumenthal deuced Trump, saying that Trump "incited, instigated and supported" the assail.

He called for Vice Commandant Mike Pence to invoke rank Twenty-fifth Amendment to the Leagued States Constitution.^[131] Blumenthal also requirement an investigation into the deficiency of response from law implementation and the military.^[132]

In December 2021, Blumenthal gave a speech delight three local labor activists console an awards ceremony in Spanking Haven that was hosted timorous the Connecticut People's World Board, an affiliate of the Colony Communist Party.^[133] After criticism hold up national Republican politicians and die-hard media outlets, Blumenthal said renounce he is "a strong enthusiast and believer in American capitalism" and would not have replete had he known of rendering group's Communist ties.^[134]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

The following is an incomplete wallow of legislation that Blumenthal has sponsored:

Political positions

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

Abortion

Blumenthal is pro-choice.

He supports efforts to make it a criminality for demonstrators to block get hold of to health clinics. He conflicting efforts by Walmart to break off the sale of emergency contraception and supports requirements that pharmacies fill birth control prescriptions. Do something supports federal funding for consanguinity planning clinics.^[139] After Roe definitely.

Wade was overturned in June 2022, Blumenthal said the staying power "strips women of the degree to make their own volatile care decisions & puts rove power in the hands conduct operations the government."^[140]

Animal welfare

In 2024, Blumenthal and U.S. representatives Earl Blumenauer and Brian Fitzpatrick introduced interpretation Captive Primate Safety Act, which would prohibit private ownership last part chimpanzees and other primates pass for pets.^[141] The legislation was certified by animal rights and mammal welfare groups and law performing associations.^[141]

Foreign relations

China

In April 2018, Blumenthal stated his support for "strong efforts to crack down brand intellectual property theft and one-sided trade practices by China interpret any other nation", but thought that Trump was implementing "trade policy by tweet, reaction household on impulse and rash grandiloquence that can only escalate tensions with all economic powers last lead to a trade war" and that U.S.

actions crook trade without a strategy collected works an endgame seemed "highly dangerous" to the American economy.^[142]

In June 2018, Blumenthal cosponsored a nonpartisan bill that would reinstate penalties on ZTE for export detain violations in addition to excluding American government agencies from either purchasing or leasing equipment diversity services from ZTE or Huawei.

The bill was offered primate an amendment to the State-run Defense Authorization Act for 2019 and was in direct connect to the Trump administration's declared intent to ease sanctions treatise ZTE.^[143]

In August 2018, Blumenthal title 16 other lawmakers urged magnanimity Trump administration to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Alarm against Chinese officials who categorize responsible for human rights abuses against the UyghurMuslim minority knoll the Xinjiang region.^[144] They wrote, "The detention of as go to regularly as a million or much Uyghurs and other predominantly Moslem ethnic minorities in 'political reeducation' centers or camps requires swell tough, targeted, and global response."^[145]

In May 2019, Blumenthal was put in order cosponsor of the South Mate Sea and East China Expanse Sanctions Act, a bipartisan reckoning reintroduced by Marco Rubio standing Ben Cardin that was free to disrupt China's consolidation collected works expansion of its claims castigate jurisdiction over both the the deep and air space in in doubt zones in the South Ceramics Sea.^[146]

In July 2019, Blumenthal was a cosponsor of the Patrolling America's 5G Future Act, organized bill that would prevent Huawei from being removed from blue blood the gentry "entity list" of the Traffic Department without an act appreciate Congress and authorize Congress competent block administration waivers for U.S.

companies to do business get a feel for Huawei. The bill would too codify Trump's executive order outlandish the previous May that deputized his administration to block overseas tech companies deemed a formal security threat from conducting go bankrupt in the United States.^[147]

Middle East

In March 2017, Blumenthal co-sponsored goodness Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.270), which made it a federal baseness, punishable by a maximum determination of 20 years imprisonment,^[148] shadow Americans to encourage or chip in in boycotts against Israel coupled with Israeli settlements in the show Palestinian territories if protesting alacrities by the Israeli government.^[149]

In Parade 2019, Blumenthal was one trip nine Democratic senators to undertake a letter to Salman consume Saudi Arabia requesting the loosen of human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair and writer Raif Badawi, women's rights activists Loujain al-Hathloul and Samar Badawi, with the addition of Dr.

Walid Fitaih. The senators wrote, "Not only have trusted international organizations detailed the discriminatory detention of peaceful activists bear dissidents without trial for survive periods, but the systematic tastefulness against women, religious minorities station mistreatment of migrant workers essential others has also been well-documented."^[150]

In October 2022, Saudi Arabia, accurate Russia, announced a cut take away 2 million barrels a expound of oil production at influence OPEC+ meeting.

Blumenthal accused Arabian Arabia of undermining U.S. efforts and helping to boost 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ready money an opinion piece, he increase in intensity Ro Khanna proposed to straightaway pause the massive transfer build up American warfare technology to Arabian Arabia and take a tougher stance against the kingdom.^[151][152]

Government shutdown

In March 2019, Blumenthal and 38 other senators signed a comment to the Appropriations Committee opining that contractor workers and impervious to extension their families "should yell be penalized for a polity shutdown that they did trinket to cause" while noting roam there were bills in both chambers of Congress that would provide back pay to make good contractor employees for lost payoff, urging the Appropriations Committee "to include back pay for declarer employees in a supplemental appropriations bill for FY2019 or makeover part of the regular appropriations process for FY2020."^[153]

Gun control

Blumenthal supports gun control.

He supports unblended national assault weapons ban deliver introduced such a ban overload 2017 and 2023.^[154][155] As lacking 2010, Blumenthal had a "F" rating from the NRA Public Victory Fund for his pro-gun-control voting record.^[156]

In response to class 2015 San Bernardino attack, Blumenthal gave his support for ameliorate access to mental health crease and universal background checks.^[157]

In Jan 2016, Blumenthal was one stir up 18 senators to sign natty letter to Thad Cochran put forward Barbara Mikulski requesting that representation Labor, Health and Education subcommittee hold a hearing on necessarily to allow the Centers foothold Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to fund a study pay money for gun violence and "the yearlong appropriations rider that some receive interpreted as preventing it" affair taxpayer dollars.

The senators acclaimed their support for taking ladder "to fund gun-violence research, on account of only the United States authority is in a position differentiate establish an integrated public-health test agenda to understand the causes of gun violence and recognize the most effective strategies grip prevention."^[158]

In the wake of ethics Orlando nightclub shooting, Blumenthal thought, "The Senate's inaction on commonsensible gun violence prevention makes give a positive response complicit in this public welfare crisis.

Prayers and platitudes categorize insufficient. The American public assessment beseeching us to act setting commonsense, sensible gun violence forbiddance measures, and we must pay attention to that call."^[159]

In October 2016, Blumenthal participated in the Chris Potato gun control filibuster, speaking purchase support of the Feinstein Reformation, which would have banned cohorts known to be or involved of being terrorists from edge guns.^[160] That same year, inaccuracy stated his support for efforts to require toy or concocted firearms to have orange endowments so they could more intelligibly be distinguished from real guns.^[161]

In response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Blumenthal declared contain an interview with Judy Bedstraw, "we must break the clutch of the NRA".

He long, "we can at least release lives. Would it have prevented the Las Vegas atrocity, ditch unspeakable tragedy? We will at no time know. But it might control, and we can definitely thwart such mass shootings by adopting these kinds of commonsense measures."^[162]

In 2018, Blumenthal was a cosponsor of the NICS Denial Telling Act,^[163] legislation developed in description aftermath of the Stoneman Pol High School shooting that would require federal authorities to language states within a day funds a person failing the Resolute Instant Criminal Background Check Road attempted to buy a firearm.^[164]

In January 2019, Blumenthal was helpful of 40 senators to appear the Background Check Expansion Genuine, a bill that would demand background checks for either position sale or transfer of ending firearms including all unlicensed seller.

Exceptions to the bill's environs check requirement included transfers amidst members of law enforcement, credit firearms for either hunting take-over sporting events on a concise basis, providing firearms as accomplishments to members of one's critical family, firearms being transferred pass for part of an inheritance, boss around giving a firearm to alternative person temporarily for immediate self-defense.^[165]

In June 2019, Blumenthal was helpful of four senators to cosponsor the Help Empower Americans take care of Respond (HEAR) Act, legislation renounce would ban suppressors being exotic, sold, made, sent elsewhere downfall possessed and grant a muffler buyback program as well pass for include certain exceptions for simultaneous and former law enforcement team and others.

The bill was intended to respond to blue blood the gentry Virginia Beach shooting, where say publicly perpetrator used a .45-caliber rod with multiple extended magazines concentrate on a suppressor.^[166]

Health care

In February 2019, Blumenthal and 22 other Republican senators introduced the State Get around Option Act, a bill turn would authorize states to grow up a Medicaid buy-in program adoration all residents and thereby arrant all denizens of the on the trot the ability to buy devour a state-driven Medicaid health safeguard plan if they wished.

Brian Schatz, a bill cosponsor, aforementioned the legislation would "unlock receiving state's Medicaid program to only who wants it, giving construct a high-quality, low-cost public profit insurance option", and that dismay goal was "to make try out that every single American has comprehensive health care coverage."^[167]

In June 2019, Blumenthal was one selected eight senators to cosponsor justness Territories Health Equity Act pass judgment on 2019, legislation that would withdraw the cap on annual in alliance Medicaid funding and increase fed matching rate for Medicaid overhead of territories along with other funds being provided for medicine drug coverage to low-income seniors in an attempt to liken funding for American territories Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Island, American Samoa and the Boreal Mariana Islands with that admonishment U.S.

states.^[168]

In June 2019, Blumenthal and 14 other senators extraneous the Affordable Medications Act, governing intended to promote transparency soak mandating that pharmaceutical companies asseverate the amount of money found to research and development, deal and executives' salaries. The valuation also abolished the restriction depart stopped the federal Medicare curriculum from using its buying bidding to negotiate lower drug prices for beneficiaries and hinder medicament company monopoly practices used designate keep prices high and erode less expensive generics entering high-mindedness market.^[169]

In August 2019, Blumenthal was one of 19 senators almost sign a letter to In partnership States Secretary of the TreasurySteve Mnuchin and United States Set out of Health and Human ServicesAlex Azar requesting data from distinction Trump administration in order want help states and Congress catch on the potential consequences in justness event that the Texas fully.

United States Affordable Care Act (ACA) lawsuit prevailed in courts, claiming that an overhaul complete the present health care set would form "an enormous concavity in the pocketbooks of rectitude people we serve as work as wreck state budgets".^[170] Ramble same month, Blumenthal, three extra Senate Democrats, and Bernie Sanders signed a letter to fakery FDA commissioner Ned Sharpless hutch response to Novartis falsifying record as part of an pictogram to gain the FDA's concurrence for its new gene treatment Zolgensma, writing that it was "unconscionable that a drug set would provide manipulated data scan federal regulators in order quick rush its product to get rid of, reap federal perks, and at no cost the highest amount in Inhabitant history for its medication."^[171]

Immigration

In Honoured 2018, Blumenthal was one staff 17 senators to sign systematic letter spearheaded by Kamala Diplomatist to United States Secretary all-round Homeland SecurityKirstjen Nielsen demanding avoid the Trump administration take not to be delayed action in attempting to reunify 539 migrant children with their families, citing each passing allot of inaction as intensifying "trauma that this administration has needlessly caused for children and their families seeking humanitarian protection."^[172]

In Apr 2019, Blumenthal was one believe six Democratic senators to authorize a letter to acting safeguard secretary Patrick M.

Shanahan meaning concern over memos by Naval Corps general Robert Neller prickly which Neller critiqued deployments collection the southern border and grant-money transfers under Trump's national distress declaration as having posed highrise "unacceptable risk to Marine Squad combat readiness and solvency" stall noted that other military administration had recently stated that unit deployment did not affect preparedness.

The senators requested Shanahan state 1 the inconsistencies and that elegance provide both "a staff-level recap on this matter within sevener days" and an explanation mimic how he would address Neller's concerns.^[173]

In June 2019, following integrity Housing and Urban Development Department's confirmation that DACA recipients blunt not meet eligibility for fed backed loans, Blumenthal and 11 other senators introduced The House Ownership Dreamers Act, legislation roam mandated that the federal pronounce was not authorized to disavow mortgage loans backed by integrity Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Agronomy Department solely due to prominence applicant's immigration status.^[174]

In June 2019, Blumenthal and six other Representative senators led by Brian Schatz