A Trump-appointed federal prosecutor issued an ominous legal warning to a Democratic senator Wednesday, demanding that he preserve documents related to his investigation into donors financing President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom.
U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz of the Southern District of Texas took aim at Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in a sharply worded letter accusing the lawmaker of intimidating Americans over their associations with the president.
“In recent weeks, you have threatened citizens for associating themselves with the President and other public officials,” Reitz wrote.
The Trump prosecutor went further, warning Blumenthal that failure to preserve records could result in “sanctions, adverse-inference instructions, or other penalties” and carry “significant legal consequences.”
Reitz then took the confrontation public.
“After the election, @SenBlumenthal & his allies think they can intimidate Americans for their constitutionally protected associations w/ President Trump,” he wrote in an X post. “Congress is not a weapon to be wielded against the American people.”
“I'm taking the first step to stop this abuse of power,” he added.
The warning comes as Blumenthal investigates private donations to Trump’s $330 million White House ballroom project.
Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, has demanded records from donors about their contributions and communications with administration officials as he investigates potential conflicts of interest.
The confrontation also drew a response from one of the Justice Department’s highest-ranking officials, who publicly defended the department’s position.
“The First Amendment expressly prohibits Congress from infringing the speech and association rights of Americans,” wrote Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter, who serves directly under Attorney General Todd Blanche, in his own X post.
“DOJ will defend against threats to those rights, period.”
Reitz's letter demanded that Blumenthal confirm compliance by Nov. 18 and extended the preservation demand to his staff, consultants and campaign personnel.
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. https://t.co/SxKJflB1t6
— U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz (@USAttyReitz) November 11, 2026