Trump raps Blumenthal as phony ‘con artist’
washington — President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, calling him a “phony Vietnam con artist” after the lawmaker expressed concerns about the Justice Department’s pursuit of leakers and embraced a special counsel’s probe of Russia meddling in the election and possible collusion with Trump campaign officials.
In a series of tweets from his vacation in New Jersey, Trump dismissed the “hoax Russian collusion” and revived a 2010 embarrassment for Blumenthal. The
Interesting to watch senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut talking about hoax Russian collusion when he was a phony Vietnam con artist! Donald Trump, US president
Connecticut lawmaker, a Marine Corps reservist during Vietnam, had to apologise for saying he had served in the war.
“Interesting to watch Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut talking about hoax Russian collusion when he was a phony Vietnam con artist!” Trump tweeted.
“Never in US history has anyone lied or defrauded voters like Senator Richard Blumenthal. He told stories about his Vietnam battles and conquests, how brave he was, and it was all a lie. He cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness like a child. Now he judges collusion?”
Trump’s criticism came shortly after Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was interviewed on CNN. The senator discussed several topics, including the Justice Department’s crackdown on leakers, new sanctions on North Korea and reports that special counsel Robert Mueller has impanelled a grand jury in his inquiry into Russia meddling and potential ties to the Trump campaign.
“I’m very concerned that the Department of Justice is weaponising these laws for its personal and political ends, and specifically for the White House’s purposes,” Blumenthal said. He warned of a “chilling effect on the Press and whistleblowers.”
The two-term Connecticut senator and former state attorney general credited the media for its reporting on the Trump administration. He said Mueller’s investigation must be pursued. —