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Schumer puts hold on DOJ nominees over Qatari jet for Air Force One

Schumer puts hold on DOJ nominees over Qatari jet for Air Force One
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Schumer puts hold on DOJ nominees over Qatari jet for Air Force One
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday he is placing a blanket hold on all Justice Department political nominees, as he seeks answers related to the Trump administration鈥檚 plans to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family to use as Air Force One.鈥淣ews of the Qatari government gifting Donald Trump a $400 million private jet to use as Air Force One is so corrupt that even Putin would give a double take,鈥� Schumer said on the Senate floor, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 鈥淭his is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat.鈥濃淪o, 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,鈥� he added.A blanket hold does not mean the Senate is unable to confirm these nominees, but it does force the chamber鈥檚 Republican majority to burn valuable floor time to overcome the hold. Only a simple majority vote is needed to overcome the hold.Schumer demanded the Justice Department鈥檚 Foreign Agents Registration Act Unit 鈥渄isclose all activities by Qatari foreign agents inside the U.S. that could benefit President Trump or the Trump Organization,鈥� and read a detailed list of questions probing the details of this jet offer. He also called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify before the House and Senate 鈥渢o explain why gifting Donald Trump a private jet does not violate the Emoluments Clause 鈥� which requires congressional approval 鈥� or any other ethics laws.鈥漈he Democratic leader focused his questions on the national security risks of trusting a key piece of government equipment, like Air Force One, to a foreign country, and pressed on whether the Qataris could be trusted to outfit the plane.鈥淧resident Trump has told the American people that this is a 鈥榝ree jet.鈥� 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? Why would we take the risk of trusting any foreign country to do this sensitive work? If not, what security modifications would be needed to ensure a foreign-sourced Air Force One is safe to use?鈥� he askedSchumer also pressed for other details, including how much it would cost taxpayers to make the necessary security adjustments for the plane, who in the administration was involved in arranging the offer, and whether there is any quid pro quo attached to what the president has called a 鈥済ift.鈥濃淲hat are the parameters of this deal, and which country brought it up first 鈥� us or them? What is Qatar being offered in return?鈥� he asked.Schumer鈥檚 announcement comes as ethics experts have raised concerns about the Trump administration鈥檚 potential move and questioned whether accepting the plane will violate the Constitution鈥檚 Emoluments Clause, which prohibits a president from receiving an 鈥渆molument鈥� or profit from any 鈥淜ing, Prince, or foreign state鈥� unless Congress consents.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the legal details on accepting the jet, which would be retrofitted and used as Air Force One, are 鈥渟till being worked out.鈥濃淎ny donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law,鈥� she added.Democrats have slammed the plan, with Schumer posting on social media Sunday: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just bribery, it鈥檚 premium foreign influence with legroom.鈥漇enate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters in the Capitol that 鈥渢here are lots of issues associated with that offer, which I think need to be further talked about.鈥� The South Dakota Republican did not elaborate on what he sees as issues.Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, for his part, declined to weigh in on the administration鈥檚 plan, telling CNN earlier in the day: 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 had a chance to even look at that yet.鈥漌hile some in the president鈥檚 party have defended the move, several Republican senators on Monday expressed misgivings about Trump鈥檚 plans, noting the potential for security and legal risks.Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a member of the Senate GOP leadership team, said Monday evening that Trump and the White House 鈥渘eed to look at the constitutionality鈥� of the issue.鈥淚鈥檇 be checking for bugs is what I鈥檇 be checking for,鈥� Capito said.Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri argued that it 鈥渨ould be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America.鈥�

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday he is placing a blanket hold on all Justice Department political nominees, as he seeks answers related to the Trump administration鈥檚 plans to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family to use as Air Force One.

鈥淣ews of the Qatari government gifting Donald Trump a $400 million private jet to use as Air Force One is so corrupt that even Putin would give a double take,鈥� Schumer said on the Senate floor, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 鈥淭his is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat.鈥�

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鈥淪o, 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,鈥� he added.

A blanket hold does not mean the Senate is unable to confirm these nominees, but it does force the chamber鈥檚 Republican majority to burn valuable floor time to overcome the hold. Only a simple majority vote is needed to overcome the hold.

Schumer demanded the Justice Department鈥檚 Foreign Agents Registration Act Unit 鈥渄isclose all activities by Qatari foreign agents inside the U.S. that could benefit President Trump or the Trump Organization,鈥� and read a detailed list of questions probing the details of this jet offer. He also called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify before the House and Senate 鈥渢o explain why gifting Donald Trump a private jet does not violate the Emoluments Clause 鈥� which requires congressional approval 鈥� or any other ethics laws.鈥�

The Democratic leader focused his questions on the national security risks of trusting a key piece of government equipment, like Air Force One, to a foreign country, and pressed on whether the Qataris could be trusted to outfit the plane.

鈥淧resident Trump has told the American people that this is a 鈥榝ree jet.鈥� 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? Why would we take the risk of trusting any foreign country to do this sensitive work? If not, what security modifications would be needed to ensure a foreign-sourced Air Force One is safe to use?鈥� he asked

Schumer also pressed for other details, including how much it would cost taxpayers to make the necessary security adjustments for the plane, who in the administration was involved in arranging the offer, and whether there is any quid pro quo attached to what the president has called a 鈥済ift.鈥�

鈥淲hat are the parameters of this deal, and which country brought it up first 鈥� us or them? What is Qatar being offered in return?鈥� he asked.

Schumer鈥檚 announcement comes as ethics experts have raised concerns about the Trump administration鈥檚 potential move and questioned whether accepting the plane will violate the Constitution鈥檚 Emoluments Clause, which prohibits a president from receiving an 鈥渆molument鈥� or profit from any 鈥淜ing, Prince, or foreign state鈥� unless Congress consents.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the legal details on accepting the jet, which would be retrofitted and used as Air Force One, are 鈥渟till being worked out.鈥�

鈥淎ny donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law,鈥� she added.

Democrats have slammed the plan, with Schumer posting on Sunday: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just bribery, it鈥檚 premium foreign influence with legroom.鈥�

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters in the Capitol that 鈥渢here are lots of issues associated with that offer, which I think need to be further talked about.鈥� The South Dakota Republican did not elaborate on what he sees as issues.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, for his part, declined to weigh in on the administration鈥檚 plan, telling CNN earlier in the day: 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 had a chance to even look at that yet.鈥�

While some in the president鈥檚 party have defended the move, several Republican senators on Monday expressed misgivings about Trump鈥檚 plans, noting the potential for security and legal risks.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a member of the Senate GOP leadership team, said Monday evening that Trump and the White House 鈥渘eed to look at the constitutionality鈥� of the issue.

鈥淚鈥檇 be checking for bugs is what I鈥檇 be checking for,鈥� Capito said.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri argued that it 鈥渨ould be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America.鈥�