Senate Democrats say they were forced to submit a formal public records request after the Trump administration declined to answer their questions regarding the White House’s acceptance of a Qatari aircraft intended for use as Air Force One.
The filing, led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, seeks documentation from the Department of Justice, including a legal opinion from Attorney General Pam Bondi that reportedly concluded President Trump could accept the aircraft on the condition that ownership be transferred to his presidential library before the end of his second term.
Concerns About Foreign Gifts and National Security
Whitehouse wrote that “after public accusations that this ‘gift’ violates the U.S. Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, Attorney General Bondi reportedly issued a legal memorandum to White House Counsel David Warrington concluding it would be ‘legally permissible’ for the donation of the aircraft to be conditioned on transferring its ownership to Trump’s presidential library before the end of President Trump’s second term.”
The aircraft, valued at around $400 million, sparked sustained debate over ethics and security.
Under U.S. law, presidents are prohibited from accepting gifts from foreign governments without approval from Congress.
Experts also raised concerns that constructing or outfitting the aircraft outside the United States could pose surveillance risks.
Any replacement aircraft for Air Force One must undergo extensive retrofitting to meet stringent federal security standards, potentially delaying plans already in progress.
Focus on DOJ Communications and Bondi’s Role
The letter from Senate Democrats asks the Justice Department for the full text of Bondi’s legal memorandum, as well as any related discussions between DOJ officials and the White House.
It further inquires whether Bondi sought ethical guidance before providing her analysis.
Bondi previously served as a lobbyist and was registered as a foreign agent for Qatar, earning $115,000 a month under her contract.
She also fired the Justice Department’s top career ethics officer during her tenure.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the record request.
Lawmakers Express Frustration Over Oversight Barriers
The filing underscores the broader tension between congressional Democrats and the Trump administration over access to information.
Whitehouse argued that the administration’s lack of cooperation has left lawmakers with no option but to pursue documents through public disclosure laws.
He said, “The ‘no transparency’ Trump administration has repeatedly thumbed their nose to my many legitimate oversight requests. For Democrats, there’s plenty of dripping contempt, insults, and stonewalling of Congress’s constitutional oversight authority.”
He added that “for Republican priorities, there’s a fast-track for document dumps. FOIA requests are my last resort to get answers to questions that are important to the American public.”
Democrats say they remain committed to obtaining more details about the aircraft’s approval process, particularly given the ethical, constitutional, and security implications surrounding the potential acceptance of a high-value foreign gift.
