Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that he is placing a hold on all of Trump’s nominees for the Justice Department over Qatar’s offer of a jumbo jet to be used as Air Force One.
"In light of the deeply troubling news of a possible Qatari-funded Air Force One, and the reports that the Attorney General personally signed off on this clearly unethical deal, I am announcing a hold on all DOJ political nominees, until we get more answers," Schumer said on the Senate floor on Tuesday, per NBC News. While Schumer can't block the nominees, he can slow down their consideration.
He demanded that a series of questions be answered by the Trump administration over the plane before the hold is lifted.
"President Trump has told the American people this is, 'a free jet.' Does that mean the Qataris are delivering a ready-on-day-one plane with all the security measures already built in? If so, who installed those security measures, and how do we know they were properly installed?" Schumer asked. "If this is, as President Trump promised, a free jet, will the Qataris pay for those highly sensitive installations, or will American taxpayers cover the cost?"
The DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel has prepared a memo declaring that the acceptance of the plane is legal, a senior DOJ official told the outlet, and Attorney General Pam Bondi has approved it.
Schumer called on Bondi to testify before Congress to explain the conclusion that accepting the plane is legal and to answer questions related to the gift.
“The Attorney General must testify before both the House and Senate to explain why gifting Donald Trump a private jet does not violate the emoluments clause — which requires congressional approval — or any other ethics laws,” Schumer said. “Until the Attorney General explains her blatantly inept decision and we get complete and comprehensive answers to these and other questions, I will place a hold on all political nominees to the Department of Justice.”
A White House spokesperson said, "Senator Schumer and his anti-law-and-order party are prioritizing politics over critical DOJ appointments, obstructing President Trump’s Make Safe Again agenda. Cryin’ Chuck must end the antics, stop Senate stonewalling, and prioritize the safety and civil rights of Americans."
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said that Qatar’s offer for a plane to replace the dated Air Force One while a new plane is still being manufactured by Boeing was a "great gesture."
"Now I could be a stupid person to say, oh, no, we don't want a free plane. We give free things that we'll take one too, and it helps us out. Because, again, we're talking about we have 40-year-old aircraft. The money we spend, the maintenance we spend on those planes to keep them tippy top is astronomical. You wouldn't even believe it."
"So I think it's a great gesture from Qatar. I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer,” Trump added.
