***Video***Blumenthal & Gallego Call for Inspector General Investigation into Reports Blanche Office Shut Down Investigation of Trump Pay-to-Play Clemency Scheme

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) wrote Acting Inspector General for the Department of Justice Sean O'Neill calling for an investigation into reports that Trump Administration political appointees in the office of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche may have interfered in a Department of Justice investigation into a potentially corrupt clemency scheme.

The case involves President Trump's commutation of a seven-year sentence that was being served by David Gentile, a private equity executive who was convicted of defrauding thousands of everyday investors-including many retirees. Trump's grant of clemency not only released Gentile from prison, it also cost the government and victims more than $15.5 million in restitution.

"Recent reporting indicates the office of then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche may have intervened to kill an investigation into improper payments related to President Trump's commutation of the sentence of David Gentile, less than two weeks into his seven-year sentence for his role in a $1.6 billion scheme that defrauded thousands of everyday investors," the senators wrote.

"In light of Acting Attorney General Blanche's refusal to answer questions on the matter, and the great importance of the fair and impartial administration of justice, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General investigate the decision to close the Eastern District of New York's investigation into the circumstances sounding the commutation of David Gentile's sentence."

The senators' letter is available here.

In June, Blumenthal wrote Blanche and other potential participants in the scheme asking for information and documents regarding the alleged payments, investigation, and political interference. In December, Gallego led a letter with eight other Senators, including Blumenthal, to President Donald Trump demanding answers about his decision to commute the sentence of the convicted fraudster.

During yesterday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nomination of Blanche to be U.S. Attorney General, Blumenthal pressed Blanche on his office's alleged interference in the investigation opened by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York into allegations that Gentile or others acting on his behalf may have made payments of up to $2.5 million to secure his commutation. Blanche refused to say whether he had any involvement.

"I accept that you are not going to answer my question, but I think there is a need for the Inspector General to look into the investigation that was apparently, according to one of these articles and other information, stopped, as a result of your intervention," Blumenthal said.

Text of Blumenthal's exchange with Blanche is copied below. Video of Blumenthal's remarks is available for download here.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Let me ask you about allegations in connection with David Gentile. I think we talked about these allegations when you visited me. Thank you for coming to my office. In May of 2025, David Gentile was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in an almost $1.8 billion Ponzi-like scheme that defrauded over 10,000 investors, many of them middle-class retirees, of their hard-earned savings. And he was in prison, he boasted to fellow inmates and others that he was going to be released, because he paid $2.5 million for clemency. Evidence collected by the Eastern District of New York supported those allegations, and reportedly also included statements by Father Frank Mann, that he spoke to the President about David Gentile. The Eastern District of New York was investigating these allegations and reportedly received a call from one of your top deputies, instructing them about the concerns of the Department of Justice. The investigation was stopped, by the Eastern District of New York. I wrote to you on June 23, and United States Attorney Joseph Nocella about these allegations. Then an investigation into this impropriety was shut down at the request of your office. Did you have any involvement or knowledge about the commutation of Mr. Gentile's sentence?

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche: President Trump, as I've said a couple times today, has full authority to pardon or commute anyone convicted of a federal crime.

Blumenthal: That is not my question.

Blanche: I'm answering your question, Senator…

Blumenthal: Did you know…

Blanche: Sir, I am answering your question. My communications with President Trump I will not talk about. He does not, nor should he, he has no obligation to, discuss a pardon or commutation decisions with me, and he has not. As far as what you just suggested about an investigation, I believe you're referring to a news article that was the result of apparent leaks. I would caution that there's falsehoods in those news articles.

Blumenthal: I am asking you whether you had any involvement in commuting that sentence or in stopping the investigation into the allegations of impropriety of payment, to, possibly payment to Father Frank Mann?

Blanche: And I answered the first question. But when you say stopping an investigation there is an assumption built into your question that I will not concede. We will not talk about whether investigations exist or don't exist, and certainly some leak about something that we supposedly did doesn't warrant an answer either.

Blumenthal: There was an investigation, correct?

Blanche: No, that is my whole point in saying there is an assumption baked into your question that I don't think is true. Meaning that, we cannot comment on the existence of investigations.

Blumenthal: You've commented this morning to Republican colleagues about several investigations.

Blanche: No, I haven't.

Blumenthal: You commented in response to the Chairman about the FISA investigation.

Blanche: About the what? Excuse me?

Blumenthal: The investigation that he asked you about.

Blanche: Senator, my point is that you are asking me questions about a news article the source of which was apparently, leaks. It would be inappropriate of me as the acting Attorney General to comment on such leaks or news articles that you're referencing.

Blumenthal: I accept that you are not going to answer my question but I think there is a need for the Inspector General to look into the investigation that was apparently, according to one of these articles and other information, stopped, as a result of your intervention.

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