Schumer Vows to Block Trump Nominees in Response to Qatari Jet Flap

WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, said Tuesday that he is placing a hold on all political nominees for positions in the Justice Department in response to President Donald Trump’s planned acceptance of a luxury jet from Qatar valued at $400 million.

Word of the gift became public just as the president was preparing to leave on his current four-day trip to the Middle East that includes a stop in Qatar, where Trump is expected to announce an arms deal with the Arab state.

The plan, as outlined by the president himself, is that he would use the luxury jet as Air Force One until the end of his presidency, while Boeing continues work on the next generation of the presidential aircraft.

Once he leaves office, he said, the Pentagon would then transfer it to Trump’s museum foundation.

“We are very disappointed it is taking Boeing so long to build Air Force One. We have one that is 40 years old, [and] compared to the new plane … it’s not in the same ballpark,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.

“If you look at the planes some of the Arab countries have parked alongside [the current Air Force One] it’s like it’s from a different planet,” he said.

Pressed on whether accepting the jet is appropriate, Trump said, “I think it’s a very nice gesture.”

“Now, I could be stupid and say we don’t want a free plane … but I think it is a great gesture on their part, and I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of offer,” he said.

On Tuesday on the floor of the Senate chamber, Schumer said the transaction “is so corrupt that even [Russian President Vladimir] Putin would give a double take.”

“This is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat,” the Democratic leader continued, adding later, “Until the American people learn the truth about this deal, I will do my part to block the galling and truly breathtaking politicization at the Department of Justice.”

This marks the first time Schumer has ever placed a blanket hold on an administration’s nominees.

At present there are three Justice Department nominees awaiting confirmation, though Schumer’s hold could potentially affect dozens more including nominees for U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal.

Schumer on Tuesday also called on the Justice Department’s Foreign Agents Registration Act Unit to report on any activities by Qatari agents in the United States that could benefit the president or any of his family’s businesses.

“Since Attorney General Pam Bondi took charge, the Department of Justice has not been doing its job when it comes to FARA,” he said. “The FARA Unit needs to enforce the law, and inform the public about all activities not just on this luxury plane deal, but all deals involving foreign countries in the Middle East and President Trump, his family, and the Trump organization.” 

Schumer also railed against Bondi herself, who reportedly “personally signed off on this clearly unethical deal.”

In light of her acquiescence — which the Democratic leader called “her blatantly inept decision” — he said Bondi “must testify before both the House and the 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 went on to say, “as disturbing as this latest news about a Qatari Air Force One is, it is frankly just the tip of the iceberg.”

“The American people deserve to know the facts,” he said.

He then proposed a series of questions he believes need to be answered:

“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?

“If this is, as President Trump promised, a ‘free jet’, will the Qataris pay for those highly sensitive installations or will American taxpayers have to cover those costs?

“How much will those modifications cost American taxpayers, hundreds of millions of dollars? Billions? 

“If the American taxpayers are forced to pay for this temporary plane, does it mean that the U.S. government will cancel the contract for the future Boeing plane?

“If so, how much will that cancellation cost?

“If not, 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?

“Additionally, who in the Trump administration was responsible for this crooked deal?

“What are the parameters of this deal, and which country brought it up first — us or them?

“What is Qatar being offered in return?

“Considering past security disasters such as the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, what are the security risks of this arrangement?”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., did not immediately respond to Schumer’s comments.

The Democratic leader’s hold, however, does not mean the nominees won’t eventually be confirmed; if practice it means Thune and Senate Republicans will have to engage in a much longer process to get them over the finish line.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue