Top US Senate Democrat to block Trump DOJ nominees over Qatar airplane
WASHINGTON: US Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday (May 13) vowed to block all of President Donald Trump's nominees to the Justice Department until the agency reports what it knows about Qatar's offer to give Trump's administration a $400 million aeroplane.
Trump said on Monday that it would be "stupid" for him to refuse Qatar's offer of the Boeing 747-8 aeroplane, which would be used as US "Air Force One," the jet American presidents use to fly around the globe.
The aircraft eventually would be donated to Trump's presidential library.
Schumer, referring to reports that US Attorney General Pam Bondi had signed off on the deal for the plane, called it "a blatantly inept decision."
"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 (of the US Constitution), which requires congressional approval," he said in a speech to the Senate.
The controversy over the plane is happening as President Trump visits Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, and then is due to fly to Qatar for a state visit on Wednesday.
US Senator Schumer said he wants answers to whether the Qatari government will pay for modifications of the aircraft needed to protect the president, secure communications, and provide special configurations for what is in practice an airborne Oval Office workspace.
If the US government had to bear those costs, Schumer said, "why are American taxpayers being asked to spend hundreds of millions of dollars or more on a plane that will only be used for a year or two?"
The Defense Department is already in the process of procuring a replacement for the current, ageing Air Force One, with delivery by Boeing expected within a couple of years.
A White House spokesperson on Monday said details of the gift were still being arranged.
Outside ethics experts have listed a range of Trump activities that could point to the president using his office to enrich himself or his family. Schumer specifically mentioned a $TRUMP meme coin, plans for a new Trump hotel in Dubai and a new golf course in Qatar.
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