Richard Blumenthal

Richard Blumenthal (born February 13, 1946) is an American attorney and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Connecticut since 2011. A Democrat, he previously served five terms as Connecticut's attorney general from 1991 to 2011, during which he initiated lawsuits against tobacco companies for deceptive marketing practices targeting youth, contributing to a national settlement that reduced smoking rates among minors and recovered substantial funds for the state. Blumenthal also held earlier roles including U.S. attorney for Connecticut from 1977 to 1981 and member of the Connecticut General Assembly in the 1980s.

Blumenthal enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1970, serving six years and attaining the rank of sergeant before an honorable discharge in 1976, with all duty performed stateside and no deployment to Vietnam. Despite this record, he made numerous public statements claiming or implying service "in Vietnam," as documented in speeches to veterans and press releases from the 2000s, prompting widespread criticism for misrepresenting his military experience during his 2010 Senate campaign and beyond. Blumenthal attributed these to errors or "misplaced words," but veterans' organizations such as the VFW demanded an apology, citing the pattern of inaccuracies.

As senator, Blumenthal has prioritized veterans' issues, authoring the bipartisan Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act in 2016 to enhance mental health services and reduce suicide rates among former service members, and helping advance the 2022 PACT Act to broaden healthcare and benefits for those exposed to burn pits and toxins. He has also advocated for consumer protections, infrastructure improvements, and antitrust measures against large corporations, consistent with his prosecutorial background. Reelected in 2016 and 2022, Blumenthal remains a senior member of committees on veterans' affairs, judiciary, and armed services.