Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the certification of the 2024 presidential election results on Monday. However, Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, made it clear on Tuesday that the political challenges are far from over.
Blumenthal, who has been serving in the Senate since 2011, voiced concerns about President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for key positions in his administration. According to Blumenthal, many of these nominees lack proper qualifications and have questionable motivations.
“Now that the Electoral Count is done, can we move on? No. Not with Trump planning blanket pardons. Not with dangerously unqualified, malignly motivated Trump nominees. Not with Trump normalizing election denial. The fight is just beginning,” Blumenthal stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Criticism and Response
Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s pick for White House press secretary, dismissed Blumenthal’s concerns. In a statement to Fox News Digital, she called for an end to what she termed “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
“The American people clearly support President Trump and his policies to secure the border, end inflation, and restore world peace. President Trump will work with anyone on Capitol Hill who wants to solve these problems and deliver results,” Leavitt said.
Blumenthal did not provide additional comments when contacted by Fox News Digital.
Trump’s Plans for Pardons
As President-elect, Trump has signaled his intention to pardon individuals linked to the January 6 Capitol events. During an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he suggested he would review these cases after taking office on January 20, with exceptions for individuals who acted in a “radical” or “extreme” manner.
Trump has criticized President Joe Biden’s decision last year to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, accusing the president of abusing his authority. Trump also claimed that Biden’s actions failed to address the plight of those he referred to as “January 6 Hostages,” individuals imprisoned in connection with the Capitol riots.
In a March 2024 post, Trump reaffirmed his intention to prioritize freeing January 6 detainees, calling it one of his “first acts” as president.
Blumenthal, however, strongly opposed the idea. “Pardoning any convicted January 6 rioter, particularly anyone who attacked police officers, would disgrace them and endanger democracy,” he tweeted.
As Trump prepares to take office, debates over his nominees and plans for pardons are expected to fuel ongoing political disputes.
