Blumenthal Calls for Robocall Fraudster to be Held in Contempt of Congress

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, after a witness accused of massive robocall-enabled fraud refused to answer select questions in a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) recommended he be held in contempt of Congress. Adrian Abramovich is currently facing a $120 million fine from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), pending an ongoing investigation into allegations he bombarded consumers with 96 million spoofed robocalls in an attempt to sell vacation packages.

“You cannot selectively invoke a Fifth Amendment privilege,” said Blumenthal to Abramovich. “You can’t decide to answer some questions, then decide you don’t want to answer other questions about the same activities involving the same legal culpability.”

In the hearing, Blumenthal underscored how harmful robocalls can be to vulnerable consumers like one Connecticut mother, who received an average of 7-10 robocalls a day that she was forced to answer because her son was deployed abroad in the military.

“She had to change her number, her phone rang so often. The effect of these calls was pernicious and intrusive,” said Blumenthal in the hearing. “It strikes me, Mr. Abramovich, that without prejudging the result in your case, that a high percentage of the calls were not only intrusive, but potentially scams. That’s why the FCC has levied a fine that is virtually unprecedented in its history, and that’s why you’re here today.”

Blumenthal’s full exchange with Abramovich is available for download here.