President Donald Trump is focusing on U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal once more after Connecticut’s senior U.S. senator grilled U.S. Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi on Tuesday throughout a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight listening to.
Trump known as for an investigation in a Fact Social publish into long-discussed allegations that Blumenthal lied about his navy document in 2008. Trump beforehand introduced up the allegations throughout his first time period as a strategy to rebut Blumenthal’s frequent criticisms. Blumenthal has up to now publicly addressed the difficulty, which arose following a New York Instances article.
The article refers to a video during which Blumenthal instructed a gaggle of veterans in Norwalk in March 2008, “We now have realized one thing necessary because the days that I served in Vietnam …”
Simply weeks after the homicide of Charlie Kirk prompted calls to tone down rhetoric and eschew political violence, Trump wrote, “Sanctimonious Richard “Da Nang Dick” Blumenthal, maybe the largest “joke” in america Senate, is at it once more! … maybe the best phony within the historical past of america Senate. He ought to be allowed to talk not!”
Trump requires an investigation into Blumenthal’s statements about serving in Vietnam, saying the senator detailed his time within the jungle and lengthy battles — one thing Blumenthal has not accomplished.
“He would speak about his life within the navy in nearly each speech, specifically the demise defying risks he confronted in his a few years “battle for freedom” whereas in Vietnam. He said that “the battles have been violent and lengthy, however there was no going again” – After which it occurred, Blumenthal was discovered to be a FRAUD. The troopers in his so-called “platoon” got here ahead and mentioned that that they had no thought who this man was. He was revealed, broke down and admitted, tears flowing from his eyes, that he LIED, a Whopper, one which lasted 20 yr,” Trump mentioned in Fact Social publish.
Blumenthal mentioned Trump was simply deflecting.
“Donald Trump is lashing out as a result of he doesn’t need to reply questions on why he’s directing DOJ to prosecute his political opponents, drop lawsuits towards firms making an attempt to screw over American shoppers, cover-up one in all his prime staffers accepting a bribe in a bag, or slash thousands and thousands in regulation enforcement funding,” Blumenthal mentioned in a press release to the Courant Wednesday. “I should have actually gotten underneath his pores and skin. I’m happy with my navy service. I served. The individuals of Connecticut have at all times identified my document and so they know me, which is why they’ve elected me to the Senate 3 times.”
Blumenthal, who served six years within the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves throughout Vietnam however was by no means deployed, didn’t break down or cry or admit that he lied when the controversy got here to gentle 15 years in the past.
Somewhat, on the day after the story broke, a Courant article experiences, Blumenthal held a press convention on the Veterans of Overseas Wars corridor in West Hartford, flanked by veterans from varied branches of the service.
“On a number of events, I’ve misspoken about my service, and I remorse that,” he mentioned. “However I can’t permit anybody to take a number of misplaced phrases and impugn my document of service to my nation. I served in america Marine Corps Reserves, and I’m happy with it.”
He later despatched this assertion to the Courant:
“At instances when I’ve sought to honor veterans, I’ve not been as clear or exact as I ought to have been about my service within the Marine Corps Reserves,” Blumenthal mentioned in that assertion. “I’ve firmly and clearly expressed remorse and brought accountability for my phrases. I’ve made errors and I’m sorry. I actually remorse offending anybody. I’ll at all times champion the reason for Connecticut’s and our nation’s veterans.”
It was Bondi who first revived the difficulty when Blumenthal questioned her about controversial company mergers, workers firings and her former regulation agency into which Blumenthal and a number of other different Democratic senators requested an investigation.
“Senator Blumenthal, I can’t consider that you’d accuse me of impropriety if you lied about your navy service. You lied, you admitted you lied to be elected a U.S. senator,” Bondi mentioned, speaking over him.
“I’m a profession prosecutor. Don’t you ever problem my integrity,” she continued as Blumenthal tries to get her to reply the query.
Bondi’s onslaught on Blumenthal was one in all many throughout the listening to, during which she incessantly refused to reply questions.
Gov. Ned Lamont when requested Wednesday about Republican criticisms of Blumenthal and stolen valor mentioned, “Look, cease it. I’ve watched a few of these hearings, backwards and forwards. They’re yelling at one another. That is no strategy to run a authorities. This shutdown is one other instance of dysfunction, beginning within the White Home.”
Courant reporter Christopher Keating contributed to this story.
© Copyright 2025 The Hartford Courant. All rights reserved. This materials might not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
