U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz for the Southern District of Texas just fired the first formal shot against the left’s post-midterm lawfare machine. On Wednesday, the former Trump DOJ official and Marine Corps veteran posted a blunt warning on X aimed at Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and his allies:
“After the election, @SenBlumenthal & his allies think they can intimidate Americans for their constitutionally protected associations w/ President Trump. Congress is not a weapon to be wielded against the American people. I’m taking the first step to stop this abuse of power.”
Reitz accompanied the statement with a formal letter demanding that Blumenthal and his team preserve all documents, communications, and electronically stored information related to what he described as efforts to intimidate or suppress Americans for their protected associations with President Trump.
He cited federal criminal statutes 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242, conspiracy against rights and deprivation of rights under color of law, and warned of significant legal consequences for noncompliance.
The demand covers Blumenthal, his staff, employees, agents, consultants, campaign personnel, and anyone acting on his behalf.
Blumenthal has until 6:00 p.m. Eastern on November 18, 2026, to confirm in writing that he received the letter and has taken steps to preserve the requested materials.
As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, Blumenthal has been leading a multi-month campaign targeting private donors to President Trump’s White House ballroom project, a privately funded renovation of roughly $330 million.
In letters to tech executives, corporations, and individuals (including previously undisclosed donors), the Connecticut Democrat has demanded records on solicitation, amounts, any agreements, lobbying contacts, and related communications.
He has publicly signaled that once Democrats control the relevant committees, he intends to escalate with subpoena power and has threatened noncompliance consequences that include potential imprisonment.
President Trump responded over the weekend by warning that Democrats investigating GOP donors would see their own donors investigated in return, calling the tactics “extortionist.”
Reitz’s letter frames Blumenthal’s actions as an attempt to chill First Amendment freedom of association by using congressional investigative power against private citizens and companies simply for supporting the president or participating in a philanthropic project.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter reinforced the point on X, stating that the First Amendment “expressly prohibits Congress from infringing the speech and association rights of Americans” and that DOJ “will defend against threats to those rights, period.”
@USAttyReitz @SenBlumenthal The First Amendment expressly prohibits Congress from infringing the speech and association rights of Americans. DOJ will defend against threats to those rights, period.
— Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter (@PADAGMcCotter) November 11, 2026
Jim Hᴏft is the founder and editor of The Gateway Pundit, one of the top conservative news outlets in America. Jim was awarded the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award in 2013 and is the proud recipient of the Breitbart Award for Excellence in Online Journalism from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in May 2016.
You can email Jim Hᴏft here, and read more of Jim Hᴏft’s articles here.
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