Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, who isn’t precisely well-known for daring standoffs with President Donald Trump, is about to throw down a political marker.
On Tuesday, Schumer introduced a blanket maintain on all Justice Division political appointments awaiting Senate affirmation till the White Home comes clear about Trump’s plan to just accept a luxurious jet from Qatar. The plane, reportedly price roughly $400 million, would function the brand new Air Power One—till Trump leaves the White Home. After that, it will be transferred into the possession of his future presidential library.
Trump’s choice to just accept the aircraft has triggered a uncommon bipartisan discomfort—however to this point, solely Democrats are demanding solutions.
“This is not just naked corruption. It is also a grave national security threat,” Schumer plans to say on the Senate ground on Tuesday, in keeping with ready remarks obtained by The New York Instances. “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.”
A 13-year-old personal Boeing plane that President Donald Trump toured to take a look at new {hardware} and expertise options, and spotlight the plane maker’s delay in delivering up to date variations of the Air Power One presidential plane, takes off from Palm Seaside Worldwide Airport on Feb. 16 in Florida.
Republicans, for his or her half, are largely maintaining their heads down. Requested concerning the deal, a number of GOP senators claimed they lacked sufficient info to remark. Handy!
To be clear, Schumer’s transfer is considerably symbolic. With Republicans in charge of the Senate, they’ll nonetheless push by means of Trump’s nominees. However this maintain provides procedural friction: extra ground time, extra delays, extra public scrutiny. And it piles onto an already sluggish nomination course of that has made Trump allies like Senate Majority Chief John Thune fume.
Schumer’s calls for are intensive. He needs the DOJ’s International Brokers Registration Act Unit to reveal any exercise by Qatari brokers within the U.S. that may profit Trump or his companies. Schumer can also be asking the administration to launch particulars concerning the jet: Does it include safety upgrades? Who’s paying for them? And what occurs to new Air Power One planes already on order from Boeing?
Most notably, Schumer needs Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi—who’s developed a behavior of prosecuting Trump’s political enemies whereas ignoring the president’s personal blatant ethics violations—to testify earlier than Congress. He’s demanding she clarify how accepting a virtually half-billion-dollar aircraft from a international authorities doesn’t violate the Structure’s ban on presidential presents.
In different phrases, Bondi has some explaining to do. Particularly on condition that her workplace sees protesting Trump donor Elon Musk as a possible felony, however apparently views taking a international luxurious jet as completely aboveboard.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune
As of now, three DOJ nominees are awaiting ground votes. However Schumer’s workplace advised the Instances that the minority chief’s maintain might finally lengthen to dozens extra, together with U.S. lawyer and U.S. marshal nominations.
And it’s price noting that Schumer, of all individuals, is the one main this cost. He’s not precisely recognized for drawing traces within the sand, and progressives haven’t forgotten the instances he’s caved when it counted. However with even some MAGA voices uneasy concerning the jet, Schumer may even see a straightforward win—and this time, he’s seizing it. Credit score the place it’s due: He’s exhibiting a renewed willingness to push again when it issues.
Trump, as typical, is dismissing the blowback. When pressed by reporters concerning the optics and legality of the obvious bribe, he stated solely that he’d be “stupid” to not settle for the reward.
Which may sum up Trump’s view of the presidency: If you happen to can grift it, why not? However Schumer—and anybody who nonetheless cares about ethics, nationwide safety, or constitutional norms—isn’t letting this one fly.
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