You gotta hand it to President Trump: When he doesn’t like someone, he doesn’t beat around the bush. He just lops off their head. Done.
On Wednesday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) appeared on CNN’s New Day to bemoan Trump’s firing of the incompetent FBI Director James Comey. “What we have now is really a looming constitutional crisis that is deadly serious because there is an investigation ongoing,” said Blumenthal.
“Ultimately, there may be subpoenas to the President of the United States, just as occurred in 1973 precipitating United States versus Nixon and a similar firing of a special prosecutor,” Blumenthal said.
“So what’s needed now is in fact an independent counsel and special prosecutor.”
Trump took to Twitter and gutted Blumenthal like a dead fish.
“Watching Senator Richard Blumenthal speak of Comey is a joke. “Richie” devised one of the greatest military frauds in U.S. history. For…. years, as a pol in Connecticut, Blumenthal would talk of his great bravery and conquests in Vietnam – except he was never there. When….caught, he cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness…and now he is judge & jury. He should be the one who is investigated for his acts.”
Blumenthal on several occasions claimed he served in Vietnam. Like this time. In 2010, during his Senate campaign, he said “We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam.” Dozens and dozens of articles also listed Blumenthal as a Vietnam War vet.
But he was never there. Blumenthal received at least five draft deferments from 1965 until 1970 before enlisting — when his deferments were about to end. He got a cushy gig in the United States Marine Corps Reserve where he served in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut from 1970 to 1976. He saw no action and was never deployed overseas.
In a 2010 interview with the New York Times, Blumenthal said he had “misspoken about his service during the Norwalk event and might have misspoken on other occasions. ‘My intention has always been to be completely clear and accurate and straightforward, out of respect to the veterans who served in Vietnam.’ “
After the Times bombshell, Blumenthal held a press conference surrounded with veterans. “On a few occasions I have misspoken about my service and I regret that and I take full responsibility,” Blumenthal said, his voice cracking with emotion. “But I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of service to our country.
“I served in the United States Marines Corps Reserve and I am proud of it,” he said. Any mischaracterization was “absolutely unintentional” and amounted to little more than “a few misplaced words.”
Blumenthal’s attempt at stolen valor is reminiscent of that committed by NBC news anchor Brian Williams. Williams said a military helicopter he was traveling in during a trip to Iraq had been “forced down after being hit by an RPG.” It wasn’t. Then a slew of false claims surfaced and Williams was fired.
But Connecticut being Connecticut, voters there elected Blumenthal, and he’s gotten a free ride ever since.
Until Trump delivered a classic beat down — in three little tweets.