U.S. Senate candidate Leora Levy blasted Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) over a controversy that centers around an ethics complaint against the lawmaker.
“Richard Blumenthal parsing & denying that he owns individual stocks is the 2022 version of ‘It depends on what the meaning of is, is…’ Just another double-speaking career politician who has lost his perspective on truth,” the candidate tweeted.
Richard Blumenthal parsing & denying that he owns individual stocks is the 2022 version of “It depends on what the meaning of is,is…” Just another double-speaking career politician who has lost his perspective on truth. https://t.co/Jxt65fqe3U
— Leora Levy (@LeoraLevyCT) March 18, 2022
The remark is attached to a report from The Washington Free Beacon, where the Connecticut lawmaker denies allegations that he failed to disclose multiple stock transactions.
Blumenthal claimed that he did not own any individual stocks; however, the report highlights that he reported stock transactions from an “investment fund controlled by his wife’s family.”
According to the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, the group that filed the original complaint, there is no difference between the two.
“Timely reporting stock trades is one of the most fundamental ethics laws, and there is no excuse for senators to violate it. The disclosure law reveals conflicts of interest, including whether a senator uses non-public information for personal gain and, on the other hand, how a senator’s personal investments may skew their decision-making on an official action. The ethics laws are essential for maintaining credibility and instilling public trust, and a major element of this is full and timely disclosure. We urge the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to investigate this case in which Sen. Blumenthal’s personal investments and official action overlapped,” said Kendra Arnold, executive director of FACT, previously.
Lawmakers that have made questionable stock trades have faced criticism from both sides of the political aisle, especially throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Connecticut Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Leora Levy” by Leora Levy. Photo “Richard Blumenthal” by Sage Ross. CC BY 1.0.
