Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 4/3/2026-4/10/2026

Urging Investigation of Sale of Connecticut Sun

[Hartford, CT] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to the Department of Justice demanding it open an antitrust investigation into the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)'s interference with Connecticut's efforts to keep the Connecticut Sun based in the state.

"In forcing the Sun's sale to Fertitta Entertainment and move to Houston despite a more lucrative bid to move the team to Hartford, which is in the same media and consumer market, the WNBA abused its monopolistic control over professional women's basketball to flagrantly block potential negotiations and dictate the result for its own purposes, seemingly violating federal antitrust laws," Blumenthal wrote.

Last week's announcement that the team had been sold to Houston for $25 million less than the State of Connecticut's offer because of the WNBA's intervention demands federal. The WNBA is not exempt from antitrust laws and their enormous market power as the only women's professional basketball league in the United States means that it should face scrutiny whenever it uses that power to harm competitive processes.

"No sports fan deserves to lose their favorite team based on the whims of a monopolist sports league. This is especially true in Connecticut, a state that is famously passionate about women's basketball," Blumenthal said.

In addition to writing the DOJ, Blumenthal joined Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar last week in introducing the Home Team Act, legislation to require owners of professional sports teams to give local communities the chance to buy teams before relocating them.

Blumenthal's letter is available here

Blumenthal held a press conference in Hartford on Monday to announce his letter to the DOJ demanding an antitrust investigation into the sale of the Connecticut Sun.

"The WNBA has rigged the bidding. It has rigged the process to force the Connecticut Sun to be in Houston rather than in Connecticut, where there were at least 2 higher bids to keep them in the New England area. The WNBA has put a heavy hand on the competitive scale, forcing the Connecticut Sun to accept a lower bid in a different location-really a betrayal of the fan base here in Connecticut, which is strong and exuberantly in favor of keeping the Connecticut Sun here," said Blumenthal at the press conference. "Connecticut is the basketball capital of the world-there's more than ample support here from fan and also from the local economy, which will suffer as a result of losing the Connecticut Sun. The WNBA must be held accountable."

Blumenthal further slammed the WNBA's interference in the sale of the Connecticut Sun on Twitter/X.

"CT Sun is leaving CT-harming fans, local businesses, our state economy-because WNBA blocked them from accepting the highest bid, staying in CT. I'm asking DOJ to investigate this apparent monopolistic interference with fair competition," wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Cracking Down on Dangers of Sports Betting

Blumenthal wrote to major American sports leagues raising concerns about the further entrenchment of gambling and prediction markets in professional and college sports. In letters sent to the CEOs of Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Blumenthal pressed the leagues on steps they are taking to preserve the integrity of the game, prevent fueling addiction, protect athletes, and comply with state laws in any partnerships with prediction markets.

In a letter sent to MLB Commissioner Robert Dean Manfred Jr., Blumenthal wrote, "The MLB's financial and operational partnership with Polymarket and FanDuel provides the league's official blessing to gambling's ugly takeover of sports and bolsters its marketing, wagering, and legitimacy. Fans are taking notice of this and its detrimental effects: according to polling, 47% of men under 30, one of the most likely groups to wager, say legal sports betting is a bad thing for society."

Blumenthal continued, "Potential branding rights and placement for gambling operators and gambling service providers make it impossible for fans to avoid constant reminders about gambling, which is especially dangerous for problem gamblers. Access to league and teams' data could also fuel wagers, including microbets and prop bets that encourage addiction and are prone to fraud. The MLB should refrain from any partnerships and cut ties with gambling operators and gambling service providers that undermine the game, support strict state and federal oversight, and ensure that any contracts require strong safeguards and enforcement against addiction, fraud, and exploitation."

Copies of Blumenthal's letters to the leagues are available here.

Blumenthal also joined Sport and Medical Science Academy students for a roundtable discussion on the risks of sports betting among young people.

"Inspiring leadership from Sport & Medical Sciences Academy students standing against the harms of sports betting. We need clear, enforceable rules for the sports betting industry to ensure protecting young people is prioritized over profits," wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Demanding Answers from Polymarket Regarding National Security Risks

Blumenthal wrote to Founder and CEO of Polymarket Shayne Coplan demanding answers about the prediction market's failure to prevent insider trading and gambling related to American national security matters, including betting over military interventions in Venezuela and Iran. Blumenthal's letter comes after a group of new accounts on Polymarket placed highly specific bets on whether the U.S. and Iran would reach a ceasefire agreement on April 7, shortly before the two-week ceasefire deal was announced by President Trump.

"These repeated, illicit bets raise significant concerns about the mishandling of confidential information on Polymarket, and calls into question whether it is taking adequate steps to prevent, deter, and report national security leaks and gambling over matters of life-and-death," Blumenthal wrote.

Blumenthal continued, "Prediction markets have also turned a blind eye, or even encouraged, the use of secrets and insider information. Indeed, you called it 'cool' that Polymarket 'creates this financial incentive for people to go and divulge the information to the market and the market to change.' This financial incentive to abuse trust apparently worked…In practice, Polymarket has become an illicit market to sell and exploit national security secrets unlike any in history, and by extension a potential honeypot for foreign intelligence services watching for those same suspicious bets and wagers."

"After embarrassing press stories about these unethical wagers, last month you announced a few new rules restricting misuse of confidential information and manipulation. However, these changes are paltry, inadequate, and late," Blumenthal concluded.

The full text of Blumenthal's letter is available here.

Blumenthal further highlighted is letter to Polymarket demanding answers regarding potential national security risks on Twitter/X.

"Polymarket has become an illicit market to sell & exploit national security secrets. Just this week, Polymarket put the life of a U.S. servicemember up for wager & was caught allowing suspicious bets on the ceasefire with Iran. Polymarket's new rules on insider trading are paltry, inadequate, & late. I'm demanding answers from their CEO about the failure to prevent unethical bets & gambling on America's national security." wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Bolstering Services for Trauma Recovery & Victims Services

Blumenthal joined hospital leaders and community violence prevention advocates in Hartford to announce a $1.5 million federal investment for St. Francis Hospital's Curtis D. Robinson Center for Health Equity to strengthen and expand its trauma recovery and victim services.

The funding will support the transition of two community-based, trauma-informed therapy programs, the Greater Hartford Family Advocacy Center (GHFAC) and St. Francis's Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP), into a single, coordinated system of care. This comprehensive approach is designed to create a safe, healing environment that strengthens resiliency for individuals and families impacted by trauma and violence.

"I'm excited and honored to be here today, not only because of the grant we are announcing, but because it gives me the opportunity to say thank you. Than you to all of the staff, all of the volunteers, everyone involved in this profoundly important effort. Hope and healing-profound," said Blumenthal. "The grant we are announcing today is just a token of what our society owes to solving or at least addressing this problem."

Blumenthal further highlighted the grant announcement on Twitter/X.

"Honored to award St. Francis Hospital $1.5 million in federal funding for their services to help survivors of violence. Thank you to their staff, volunteers, & all involved in helping to heal the physical & psychological wounds of trauma," wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal reacted to the ceasefire announcement in Iran and called for lasting stability through negotiation.

Blumenthal called out ICE for arresting a Cheshire teen.

Blumenthal slammed the VA Secretary for ignoring authority to help recruit and retain doctors.

Blumenthal joined CNN on Monday to discuss the situation in Iran.

Blumenthal cheered on the UConn men's basketball team in the NCAA March Madness Championship game and congratulated all of the Connecticut teams for their performance in the tournaments.

Blumenthal visited Norwich businesses with Mayor Singh.

Blumenthal announced funding for the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce Foundation for services benefiting the wellbeing of our nation's veterans.

Blumenthal visited firefighters in Norfolk to discuss their need for a new pumper truck.

Blumenthal joined the Women's Business Development Council to celebrate women-owned businesses supporting Connecticut's economy.

Blumenthal visited with Greenwich Academy students.

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