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 administration맥스카지노s plans to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family to use as Air Force One.
맥스카지노News 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,맥스카지노 Schumer said on the Senate floor, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 맥스카지노This is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat.맥스카지노
맥스카지노So, 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,맥스카지노 he added.
A blanket hold does not mean the Senate is unable to confirm these nominees, but it does force the chamber맥스카지노s 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 Department맥스카지노s Foreign Agents Registration Act Unit 맥스카지노disclose all activities by Qatari foreign agents inside the U.S. that could benefit President Trump or the Trump Organization,맥스카지노 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 맥스카지노to explain why gifting Donald Trump a private jet does not violate the Emoluments Clause 맥스카지노 which requires congressional approval 맥스카지노 or any other ethics laws.맥스카지노
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.
맥스카지노President Trump has told the American people that this is a 맥스카지노free jet.맥스카지노 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?맥스카지노 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 맥스카지노gift.맥스카지노
맥스카지노What are the parameters of this deal, and which country brought it up first 맥스카지노 us or them? What is Qatar being offered in return?맥스카지노 he asked.
Schumer맥스카지노s announcement comes as ethics experts have raised concerns about the Trump administration맥스카지노s potential move and questioned whether accepting the plane will violate the Constitution맥스카지노s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits a president from receiving an 맥스카지노emolument맥스카지노 or profit from any 맥스카지노King, Prince, or foreign state맥스카지노 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 맥스카지노still being worked out.맥스카지노
맥스카지노Any donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law,맥스카지노 she added.
Democrats have slammed the plan, with Schumer posting on Sunday: 맥스카지노It맥스카지노s not just bribery, it맥스카지노s premium foreign influence with legroom.맥스카지노
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters in the Capitol that 맥스카지노there are lots of issues associated with that offer, which I think need to be further talked about.맥스카지노 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 administration맥스카지노s plan, telling CNN earlier in the day: 맥스카지노I haven맥스카지노t had a chance to even look at that yet.맥스카지노
While some in the president맥스카지노s party have defended the move, several Republican senators on Monday expressed misgivings about Trump맥스카지노s 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 맥스카지노need to look at the constitutionality맥스카지노 of the issue.
맥스카지노I맥스카지노d be checking for bugs is what I맥스카지노d be checking for,맥스카지노 Capito said.
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri argued that it 맥스카지노would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America.맥스카지노
