Photo: Connecticut Centinal
U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz of the Southern District of Texas has sent Sen. Richard Blumenthal a letter demanding that records be preserved.
In the November 11 letter, posted by Reitz, his office demanded the preservation of all documents, communications and records related to efforts to “intimidate” or “suppress” Americans for their constitutionally protected associations with President Donald Trump and his allies. Reitz cited federal criminal statutes, 18 U.S.C. sections 241 and 242, that prohibit conspiracies to deprive citizens of their rights, and warned that failure to preserve evidence could result in sanctions or adverse inferences.
Reitz wrote, “Congress is not a weapon to be wielded against the American people.” In a post sharing the letter, he said he was taking “the first step to stop this abuse of power.” He argued that Blumenthal and his allies appear ready to use investigative power to target private citizens and donors simply for supporting the president, and that such tactics would violate the First Amendment’s freedom of association.
The letter comes as Blumenthal has publicly signaled plans for aggressive hearings into Trump administration figures once Democrats take control of relevant committees.
Reitz gave Blumenthal until November 18 to confirm he has received the demand and is preserving the materials. The letter is a preservation demand, not a criminal charge.
