Letter to Congress: Hold Hearings on Trump’s Qatari Jet
The Society for the Rule of Law Institute and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sent a letter to Congress calling for hearings into Donald Trump’s acceptance of a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar.
The letter was sent to the chairs and ranking members of the House Armed Services Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
The letter is by Noah Bookbinder, president and CEO of CREW, and Gregg Nunziata, executive director of the Society. Noah was a counsel for Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2005 to 2013. Gregg was a counsel for Republicans on the committee from 2005 to 2008, serving as chief nominations counsel beginning in 2006.
They write:
President Trump’s announcement that he intends to accept a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar—to be used first as Air Force One then given to Trump’s presidential library foundation—is cause for bipartisan concern and the immediate attention of your congressional committees …
As former Senate committee counsels, one who worked for Republicans and one who worked for Democrats, we believe strongly in Congress’s critical oversight role and the duty of its committees to “exercise continuous watchfulness” over the administration’s execution of the laws within their jurisdiction. Oversight should neither be dismissed nor pursued for mere partisan motivations. Congress has a constitutional obligation to conduct bipartisan investigations that strengthen our government and serve the interests of the American people. An investigation into this matter squarely its that description …
Congress needs to investigate and exercise its oversight authority. Congressional hearings should focus both on corruption concerns—including whether Trump’s acceptance of the Qatari jet violates the Foreign Emoluments Clause—and the significant national security risks already raised by both Democrats and Republicans …
The President’s plan to accept this luxury jet is unprecedented and raises a multitude of legal, ethical, and national security concerns. Congress must not sit on the sidelines while the American public is left to wonder about the possibility of corruption, national security risks and government waste.