Democrats heap scrutiny on Trump jet gift: 'It is gross, it is reckless, it is corrupt'
Democrats are planning to put as much scrutiny as they can on President Trump’s plan to accept the gift of a plane from Qatar to serve as Air Force One, arguing the ethical and national security lapses in accepting the jet will resonate with the public.
They also want to cast the Department of Justice under Trump as no longer standing for U.S. values, saying that under Attorney General Pam Bondi, it has instead been transformed into a legal entity solely set up to protect the president.
That effort began in earnest Tuesday, as multiple Democrats took to the floor to highlight what they argue isn’t just the blurring of the lines between a public act and personal gain, but total erasure of them.
Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), who have been among the leading voices in opposition, rolled out a resolution condemning “any acceptance of Presidential aircraft, or any other substantial gift, from a foreign government.” The aircraft is valued at roughly $400 million.
“It really should go without saying, but no president should be accepting a $400 million gift from a foreign country,” Schatz said on the floor Tuesday afternoon. “It is gross, it is reckless, it is corrupt, and the outrage and the condemnation, especially on the Republican side, should be universal. There is no excuse or justification for this. It is wrong, and that is the end of the story.”
“This is the most blatant, obvious, ridiculous, gross corruption that I've ever seen in my entire life. By dollar amount, by symbolism, by violating constitutional and statutory law,” he continued. “You don’t have to be … a lawyer. You don’t have to be........
© The Hill
