Who Is Richard Blumenthal? US Democrat Senator At Centre Of Russia Sanctions Bill

Blumenthal, 80, has represented Connecticut in the US Senate since 2011. He was elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2016 and 2022.

US Senator Richard Blumenthal has emerged as one of the key Democratic figures behind the bipartisan legislation that could allow US President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including India.

Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, co-led the effort with the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and helped develop the bipartisan sanctions framework targeting Russia and countries that continue to purchase its energy exports. The two senators first introduced legislation seeking primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and entities supporting its war in Ukraine in April 2025.