Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Tuesday that he is placing a hold on all of President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice nominees. This move is in response to the administration’s plan to accept a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Qatar, intended for use as Air Force One and later for Trump’s presidential library.
Schumer criticized the gift as potentially violating the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval. He also raised concerns about national security implications, questioning who would install the necessary security measures on the aircraft and whether American taxpayers would bear the cost.
From the Senate floor, Schumer stated, “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.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi had approved the deal, stating it was legally permissible. However, Schumer is demanding that Bondi testify before Congress to explain the legal and ethical implications of accepting such a gift.
Republican leaders have dismissed Schumer’s actions as political theater. Senate GOP Whip John Barrasso referred to the hold as an “idle threat,” noting that Democrats had already been delaying the confirmation process prior to this announcement. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has extended Senate voting hours and threatened weekend sessions to push confirmations through despite Democratic resistance.
The controversy has also drawn criticism from some Republicans. Senator Ted Cruz expressed concerns about espionage risks, while Senator Shelley Moore Capito questioned the security implications. Despite these concerns, the Trump administration maintains that the aircraft is a “free jet” and plans to use it during the presidency before transferring it to the presidential library.
