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 settle for a luxurious jet from Qatar. The plane, reportedly value roughly $400 million, would function the new Air Drive One—till Trump leaves the White Home. After that, it might be transferred into the possession of his future presidential library.
Trump’s determination to simply accept the aircraft has triggered a uncommon bipartisan discomfort—however thus far, 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 flooring on Tuesday, based on ready remarks acquired 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.”
In accordance with Punchbowl Information, that is the primary time Schumer has ever positioned a full maintain on a class of presidential nominees—a unprecedented step meant to highlight what Democrats are calling an unconstitutional association between Trump and the Qatari authorities.
Republicans, for his or her half, are largely retaining 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 management of the Senate, they’ll nonetheless push by way of Trump’s nominees. However this maintain provides procedural friction: extra flooring 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 Overseas Brokers Registration Act Unit to reveal any exercise by Qatari brokers within the U.S. that may profit Trump or his companies. Schumer can 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 Drive 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 an almost half-billion-dollar aircraft from a overseas 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 overseas luxurious jet as completely aboveboard.
Reached for touch upon Tuesday, a White Home spokesperson informed NBC Information that “Cryin’ Chuck” is “prioritizing politics over critical DOJ appointments, obstructing President Trump’s Make Safe Again agenda.”
As of now, three DOJ nominees are awaiting flooring votes. However Schumer’s workplace informed the Instances that the minority chief’s maintain may ultimately lengthen to dozens extra, together with U.S. legal professional and U.S. marshal nominations.
And it’s value noting that Schumer, of all folks, is the one main this cost. He’s not precisely recognized for drawing strains 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 simple 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 regular, is disregarding 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: Should you 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.
