Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 1/2/2026-1/9/2026

Demanding Justice & Accountability After ICE Agent's Killing of an Unarmed U.S. Citizen

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), released the following statement in response to the killing of Renee Nicole Good, an unarmed U.S. citizen, by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

"This horrific tragedy was both predictable and preventable. For months, armed ICE and CBP agents have roamed American cities and brutally assaulted American citizens with seemingly no repercussions - and now, a woman is dead. My heart breaks for her family and loved ones. I join my colleagues from Minnesota and the many local and state lawmakers and law enforcement officials who have called for peace in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy. And I also join them in demanding justice and accountability for this American killed by an ICE agent; for this community, which has been terrorized by lawless immigration agents; and for our country, which deserves a government that follows the law and abides by the basic values of our Constitution."

After the tragic and reckless killing of Good, Blumenthal wrote U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem today seeking information about "how thoroughly, if at all, agents are being trained on DHS policies governing the use of force, what those policies are, and whether, in light of the rapid expansion of its forces - 12,000 officers and agents hired in less than a year - speed is being prioritized over safety and substance in the training and hiring of these new officers."

Blumenthal opened an inquiry into DHS's use of excessive force in its interactions with U.S. citizens last year. Today, Blumenthal wrote to Noem, "The shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota is simply the latest and gravest example of DHS's escalating and indefensible use of force against the American public. Your shameful remarks this week denigrate a beloved mother and Minnesotan and are another entry in this sordid tale of DHS deception and propaganda."

The full text of today's letter to Noem is available here.

In December, Blumenthal released a report highlighting firsthand accounts of twenty-two Americans who were physically assaulted, pepper sprayed, denied medical treatment, and detained - sometimes for days - by federal immigration agents. The report, Unchecked Authority: Examining the Trump Administration's Extrajudicial Immigration Detentions Of U.S. Citizens, was released ahead of a bicameral public forum hosted by Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to receive testimony from five Americans who were unconstitutionally detained by DHS agents.

Both the report and the forum featured accounts of federal immigration officials acting with excessive force and then fabricating claims about the U.S. citizens who were detained.

In October, Blumenthal and Garcia opened an inquiry into the increasing detention of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents. In a letter to Noem, Blumenthal and Garcia demanded information and records from the agency following increasingly frequent reports of unconstitutional detentions of U.S. citizens by agents of ICE and CBP, often using disproportionate force. Blumenthal and Garcia reiterated their request in another letter to Noem in November.

Blumenthal joined MS NOW to discuss the tragic killing in Minneapolis and his investigation into the Trump Administration's aggressive immigration policy enforcement.

"What happened in Minneapolis was preventable and predictable, based on what we found in our report interviewing 22 victims of this kind of escalating, indefensible violence-which involves U.S. citizens being detained, being dragged from cars, being injured and denied medical care, being denied access to relatives, an example of the lawlessness and recklessness we're seeing on the part of ICE. And what we're seeing now, which you just showed in that video, smacks of a cover-up. If the top officials of our government were really interested in the truth, they wouldn't be pre-judging the investigation. They would support an independent, objective investigation-which is what I've called for with state and local police," said Blumenthal on MS NOW.

The full interview on MS NOW can be found here.

Slamming the Trump Administration's Lawless Actions in Venezuela

Blumenthal reacted after the Senate voted to block President Trump from carrying out future military action in Venezuela after Trump authorized a strike earlier this week that captured the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro.

"The Trump Admin's military action in Venezuela took place without the consent of the people's representatives in Congress, & that was wrong, & a disservice to our men & women in uniform. I am proud today that the Senate took a bipartisan stand for Congress' power to actually take actions & do something-& in this case, offer a sharp rebuke of President Trump's lawless military action. This is long overdue. I wish we saw more of it. The Senate must quickly pass the War Powers Resolution itself to bring some accountability to another potential endless war," wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal released the following statement after the initial strike in Venezuela leading to the capture of Maduro.

"If we're starting another endless war, with no clear national security strategy or need, count me out. Maduro is a cruel criminal dictator, but President Trump has never sought approval from Congress for war as the Constitution requires - and our military deserves. We've seen several Administrations lead us into conflicts without objectives or timelines and with disastrous consequences. President Trump has also articulated no clear end game to prevent further chaos, violence, and bloodshed in Venezuela. The American people deserve-and Congress should demand-facts and clarity," said Blumenthal.

After senators received a briefing on the situation in Venezuela, Blumenthal slammed the Trump Administration for their lack of a solid plan to stabilize the country.

"Today's classified briefing gave me absolutely zero comfort. Continuing military action & unrest in Venezuela risk spiraling out of control. There appears to be no clear justification or exit strategy. Trump is seemingly conducting a continuing military operation not a law enforcement action. Maduro is in custody, but an American armada remains poised to invade again. They must come to Congress for approval. After promising to end forever wars, Trump must explain to the American people why he wants to drag the US into another armed conflict," wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Marking the Five Year Anniversary of the January 6 Insurrection

Blumenthal delivered remarks on the Senate Floor marking the five-year anniversary of the January 6, 2021 insurrection. Blumenthal recalled his experience as he and his colleagues were evacuated from the Senate Chamber by Capitol Police officers and rushed to safety.

In his remarks, Blumenthal urged all Americans to remember what happened on that day:

"Do not forget five years ago rioters invited by President Trump tried to destroy our democracy. Trump pardoned and glorified them, and even empowering some of them in key administration offices. We cannot allow him to rewrite history. Do not forget police were brutally attacked, injured and killed for doing their job to enable a peaceful democratic transition of power. They still bear the scars, so does our democracy. Do not forget democracy is not guaranteed. It cannot be taken for granted. Do not forget it is our duty to remember the truth."

The video of Blumenthal's remarks is available here.

On the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Blumenthal is demanding answers from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins regarding data revealing a "staggering increase" in reports of sexual harassment and assault taking place at VA facilities. Blumenthal stressed his concerns with this increasing number in light of Collins' inactivation of required harassment prevention and accountability training for VA employees.

"VA has experienced a staggering increase in reports of sexual harassment and assault since the Department began reporting these metrics to Congress under the Deborah Sampson Act," the Senator wrote in a letter to Collins. "In its most recent annual report, VA disclosed 1,541 cases of sexual harassment at its facilities. The number of sexual assault cases at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities received by VA Police climbed from 323 to 472 between 2021 and 2024, while the number of sexual harassment cases reported to the Harassment Prevention Program (HPP) increased from 42 to 778. While some portion of these increases may be due to increased awareness of VA's reporting resources, such drastic increases are indicative of systemic failures across the Department to keep veterans and VA employees safe."

Blumenthal cited his concern with Collins' inactivation of legally required Harassment Prevention & Accountability Training at VA, noting it puts the Department in clear violation of the Deborah Sampson Act and leaves both new and existing VA employees without information on how to report and address harassment and sexual assault. "It is unacceptable that, while sexual harassment and assault reports at VA facilities continue to increase, the Department is unconcerned with providing its employees mandated sexual harassment prevention training."

The full text of the Senator's letter is available here.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal released a statement on the DOJ lawsuit against Connecticut for refusing to turn over the state's voter records to the Trump Administration.

Blumenthal joined the Connecticut delegation in announcing $6.8 million for traffic and road safety improvements.

Blumenthal met with Mayor Pernerewski and delegation colleagues to discuss federal help after Waterbury's massive water main break.

Blumenthal celebrated public service at the Inaugural of Mayor Justin Elicker and local officials in New Haven.

Blumenthal attended the swearing in of Barbara Smyth as the new Mayor of Norwalk.

Blumenthal attended the swearing in of Jason Hayes as First Selectman in East Granby, along with other impressive local leaders.

Blumenthal joined parents and children celebrating Three Kings Day in New Haven and West Haven.

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