After U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz issued a letter ordering Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to preserve materials pertaining to the lawmaker’s alleged «intent to deny citizens of their core constitutional rights,» the senator responded in kind by ordering Reitz to preserve materials pertaining to the decision to issue his letter.

«In recent weeks, you have threatened citizens for associating themselves with the President and other public officials,» Reitz claimed in his letter to Blumenthal Wednesday.

A footnote points to an October Blumenthal press release about the senator issuing letters demanding information from individuals and the heads of companies that the Washington Post indicated had committed donations for the construction of President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom project.

«It is also extraordinary for an elected official to intimidate citizens for engaging in philanthropic practices that will benefit our nation for generations. The American people are entitled to freely associate without elected officials terrorizing them with aggressive, harassing government action,» Reitz wrote.

TOP DEM ON COMMITTEE FIRES BACK AFTER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL WARNS AGAINST OVERREACH AMID INVESTIGATION THREATS

«I therefore write to formally give you notice of your obligation to preserve all documents, communications, and other electronically stored information relevant to your intent to deprive citizens of their core constitutional rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242. 

«You are obligated to preserve all potentially relevant evidence related to your efforts to suppress associational activities for philanthropic projects throughout the nation’s capital,» the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas demanded.

Blumenthal, the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, fired back in a letter to Reitz also dated Nov. 11.

«I am aware of your letter, posted to X today, which purports to initiate an investigation into me for conducting a congressional inquiry. This is just the latest in a series of unlawful actions on the part of the Trump Administration attempting to intimidate Members of Congress for engaging in constitutionally protected activity. Your implied threat of an investigation is baseless,» the senator wrote.

‘LAWYER UP’: DEMS IMMEDIATELY PUT TRUMP ON NOTICE AMID REPUBLICANS’ MIDTERM BLOODBATH

«As incoming Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I will not be intimidated. I will work on behalf of the American people to vigorously pursue investigations into this Administration’s misuse of taxpayer dollars and any corporate entity that has enabled its boundless corruption,» Blumenthal continued.

«The public deserves to know the terms under which dozens of American companies were persuaded to donate millions of dollars to the President’s vanity projects, and whether lawsuits were dismissed, contracts were awarded, or regulations went unenforced in exchange for that money.

«The public deserves transparency about whether the White House and the corporations it cajoled extracted favors at the expense of American taxpayers. Not only are these appropriate subjects for congressional oversight, but such inquiries are among the constitutional duties that Members of Congress must undertake to become informed about matters on which legislation may be necessary.»

Then in a tit-for-tat, the senator ordered Reitz to retain all materials related to the decision to issue his letter.

RO KHANNA REJECTS WARNINGS THAT TRUMP ADMIN INVESTIGATIONS COULD DERAIL DEMOCRATS’ AFFORDABILITY AGENDA

«Since you appear to have evidence of the Trump Administration’s efforts to protect corporate donors and Administration officials from legitimate oversight, I accordingly direct you to preserve all records and correspondence, including all communications with the White House or senior officials at the Department of Justice, related to the decision to draft and post your letter,» Blumenthal wrote.

The White House did not immediately respond to Digital’s request for comment Thursday.

politics, senate, donald trump, white house

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is set to take the reins of the House GOP in the next Congress, and his fellow Republicans are quickly rallying to tout him as the best person for the job.

The current House Judiciary Committee chairman has enjoyed a high profile in the media for years, long known as a bomb-thrower ever since he helped found the conservative House Freedom Caucus in 2015.

Because a House minority leader’s primary job is to lead counter-messaging against the majority’s agenda, Republican lawmakers are arguing Jordan is in a prime position to be throwing bombs at the other side — potentially weakening the Democratic majority’s own argument to keep the House in 2028.

«Right now, our goal is to stop bad ideas. And I think Jim will do a great job of articulating just how wild some of these ideas are,» Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., told Digital.

LONGTIME GOP LEADER FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE AFTER JIM JORDAN WINS HOUSE LEADERSHIP FIGHT

Haridopolos is a longtime ally of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who notably lost this week’s internal House GOP leadership election to Jordan by a 106 to 73 margin, sources told Digital.

But even Scalise’s supporters have quickly rallied behind Jordan since Tuesday’s race.

«Republicans took a hard hit last week, but now it’s time to come together and get back to work. I’m ready to help Jim and our team speak to every voter we need to win the majority back in 2028,» Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, who told Digital he would vote for Scalise, posted on X after the election of Jordan.

Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., a Jordan ally, noted the incoming minority leader has had experience sparring with Democrats on the Oversight and Judiciary committees, which will likely play a prime role in investigating — and potentially impeaching — members of the Trump administration.

«That’s going to wear thin in a hurry,» Fitzgerald said of Democrats’ plans. «[Jordan] understands it, because we’ve been on the other side of it.»

HAKEEM JEFFRIES DECLARES BID FOR HOUSE SPEAKER AFTER GOP’S MIDTERM MASSACRE

In his six years as head Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, Jordan has cemented his reputation as a capable bulldog for President Donald Trump and the GOP. He’s known for asking sharp, pointed questions of Democrat-leaning witnesses and spearheading investigations into justice officials who Republicans accuse of blocking Trump’s agenda.

«He definitely brings that athletic mentality to committee hearings. What you’re gonna see in press conferences, you’ll see it on the floor,» said Russell Dye, a longtime former aide to Jordan. 

«You’re gonna have a guy that’s not just gonna lay down, he’s going to get out there, attack, attack, attack, and do it in a way though, that normal Americans understand.»

«He’s a fighter,» Dye said.

‘LAWYER UP’: DEMS IMMEDIATELY PUT TRUMP ON NOTICE AMID REPUBLICANS’ MIDTERM BLOODBATH

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., who will be going into the next Congress as Jordan’s No. 2, compared him to the «Energizer bunny» and praised him as a «decision-maker.»

And the Ohio Republican himself signaled that he sees his role as directing the voice of the opposition against a likely barrage of Democratic probes.

MIKE JOHNSON NOT RUNNING TO LEAD HOUSE GOP AFTER HISTORIC MIDTERM LOSSES

Jordan told «Hannity» on Wednesday night that Republicans would heavily focus their pushback during committee meetings, where those investigations and impeachment efforts traditionally start.

«[Democrats are] just attacking their political opposition, but it’ll be across the board in every single committee,» Jordan said. «And we are committed, as House Republicans, to pushing back and giving the facts and the truth to the American people.»

But House Freedom Caucus Chairman Jordan and Minority Leader Jordan will be very different people, Republicans around him have said.

The Ohio Republican has traded his days of publicly criticizing fellow GOP lawmakers in for public calls for unity, something sources said he stressed in his argument to win the leadership role last week.

«He’s evolved. He’s been a mouthpiece for the party,» Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., said. «He’s intelligent. … He’s the right messenger for the right time, and he’s been setting himself up for this for decades.»

But it remains to be seen if that pragmatism will extend to deal-making with Democrats.

«I think so,» said Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., when asked if Jordan would be a good negotiator with the other party. «He’s got the president on his side.»

politics, jim jordan, house of representatives politics, steve scalise, republicans

Mientras continúa la búsqueda del exterrorista italiano Leonarlo Bertulazzi, el Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional ofreció una recompensa de $20 millones para quienes aporten información que permita localizarlo.

La medida quedó oficializada mediante la Resolución 1168/2026 y establece que quienes colaboren podrán preservar su identidad. Para recibir datos se habilitó la línea gratuita 134, correspondiente al Programa Nacional de Recompensas.

Al mismo tiempo, la jueza federal María Romilda Servini, a cargo del Juzgado Federal N°1, ordenó allanamientos en domicilios y lugares vinculados con personas que podrían aportar información sobre el paradero del italiano.

La investigación también apunta a establecer si Bertulazzi recibió ayuda para preparar el descenso desde el quinto piso y abandonar la zona sin ser interceptado.

En la etapa inicial de la investigación, la Policía Federal Argentina inspeccionó el domicilio donde estaba detenido Bertulazzi, en Defensa al 600. Los agentes secuestraron el celular de su pareja, Betina Köpcke, de nacionalidad alemana, que vivía con él. Según informó el periodista de TN Rodrigo Alegre, las autoridades también encontraron una agenda con muchos números de teléfono de personas de la Argentina, España e Italia durante.

Otro dato revelado por los investigadores es que, durante el escape, Bertulazzi perdió una mochila con una peluca, maquillaje y ropa. El exterrorista escapó a las 6 de la mañana del martes 10 de noviembre, cuando la concentración de policías estaba enfocada en la seguridad en torno al Papa. “Eligió un momento que, en principio, fue clave, advirtió Alegre.

Bertulazzi estaba bajo custodia de la Policía Federal Argentina y tenía colocado un dispositivo electrónico monitoreado por el Servicio Penitenciario Federal. Sin embargo, consiguió abandonar el departamento sin que los efectivos advirtieran inmediatamente lo que estaba ocurriendo.

Sin embargo, parte de la maniobra quedó registrada por una cámara de seguridad privada, cuyas imágenes se convirtieron en una pieza importante para reconstruir sus movimientos.

La ausencia del exterrorista fue advertida el martes en la mañana, durante un cambio de guardia de los efectivos federales. A partir de ese momento, se activó el protocolo de búsqueda, se emitió una orden de captura urgente y comenzaron los operativos para intentar localizarlo.

Carne de cerdo y un tensiómetro: el engaño para neutralizar la tobillera

El hallazgo dentro del departamento fue uno de los elementos que más llamó la atención de los investigadores. La tobillera electrónica estaba envuelta en carne de cerdo y rodeada por un tensiómetro, en una disposición que habría impedido que el sistema detectara a tiempo la manipulación del dispositivo.

La maniobra le habría permitido ganar minutos decisivos para concretar el escape sin que se disparara una alerta inmediata.

Según explicó Rodrigo Alegre, los investigadores descubrieron que utilizó grasa alrededor de la pierna y, cuando se sacó la tobillera, la dejó atada a un tubo, con carne de cerdo, el dispositivo térmico y conectado a un tensiómetro. Sobre la tobillera, Alegre alertó: “Creemos que siguió dando el pulso y no alertó al Servicio Penitenciario Federal”.

No era la primera vez que Bertulazzi intentaba desprenderse del mecanismo de vigilancia. Fuentes de la investigación señalaron que unas dos semanas antes ya había tratado de quitarse la tobillera. En aquella oportunidad, el sistema sí detectó la irregularidad y activó una alarma.

Después de aquel episodio, la Policía Federal solicitó a la Justicia que el italiano fuera trasladado a una cárcel o a una dependencia policial. El pedido no llegó a concretarse y Bertulazzi continuó bajo arresto domiciliario.

De las Brigadas Rojas a una extradición que quedó pendiente

Bertulazzi nació en Verona y fue integrante de las Brigadas Rojas, una organización armada de extrema izquierda que tuvo un papel central en la violencia política italiana durante las décadas del 70 y 80.

La Justicia de Italia lo condenó a una pena unificada de 27 años de prisión por delitos como pertenencia a una organización armada, secuestro agravado, robo, tenencia de armas y explosivos y fabricación de artefactos incendiarios.

terrorista