House Dems Open Investigation Into Trump's Acceptance Of $400 Million Jet From Qatar

FIRST ON FOX: House Democrats are opening an investigation into President Donald Trump and his administration's acceptance of a $400 cardinal backstage pitchy from nan Qatari government.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., nan ranking personnel of nan House Judiciary Committee, led his chap Democrats connected nan sheet successful a missive to Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington connected Thursday.

They're specifically asking Bondi to manus complete a reported ineligible memo she wrote that is meant to asseverate nan legality of Trump accepting nan level connected behalf of nan U.S.

"Any ineligible memo purporting to make specified a declare would evidently alert successful nan look of nan matter of nan Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which explicitly prohibits nan President from accepting immoderate ‘present [or] Emolument ... of immoderate benignant whatever, from immoderate King, Prince, aliases overseas State’ unless he has ‘the Consent of Congress,'" nan missive reads.

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The House Judiciary Committee's apical Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin, is launching a probe into President Trump accepting a level from Qatar (Getty Images)

"Accordingly, we are penning to petition that you supply nan Committee connected nan Judiciary pinch these memos instantly arsenic their study and conclusions are apparently nan ground for nan President’s determination to disregard nan plain matter of nan Constitution."

Raskin and nan different Judiciary Committee Democrats went truthful acold arsenic to impeach Trump aliases group successful his orbit of soliciting a bribe from Qatar.

"President Trump’s statements expressing displeasure pinch delays successful nan transportation of his caller Boeing craft to service arsenic Air Force One and nan timing of this ‘gift’ propose that President Trump aliases a personnel of his Administration whitethorn person improperly solicited this 'nice gesture' from nan Qatari government," nan Democrats said, citing Trump's ain comments.

"The truth that, according to President Trump, nan level would not stay successful work to nan United States but would alternatively beryllium donated to his statesmanlike room aft his word concludes further raises nan anticipation that this ‘nice gesture’ is intended arsenic a bribe to Donald Trump."

Multiple outlets reported that Bondi and Warrington drafted a ineligible memo that said it was "legally permissible" for Trump to judge nan level and past person it transferred to his statesmanlike room erstwhile he leaves office.

A root acquainted pinch nan discussions told Fox News Digital nan memo was drafted by nan Office of Legal Counsel and signed by Bondi.

But Democrats suggested nan memo was apt not capable grounds for Trump to bypass Congress connected nan issue, and pointed retired Bondi herself had antecedently lobbied connected Qatar's behalf.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks to reporters extracurricular nan White House, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, successful Washington.  ((AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein))

"The Constitution is clear: Congress—not nan Attorney General aliases nan White House Counsel—has nan exclusive authority to o.k. aliases cull a gift 'of immoderate benignant whatever' fixed to nan President by a overseas government," nan missive said.

"We would besides statement that, moreover if nan Attorney General had a law domiciled to play here, Attorney General Bondi has a important and evident conflict of liking fixed her anterior registration arsenic an charismatic supplier of nan Qatari authorities and earned nary little than $115,000 per period lobbying connected its behalf."

When reached for remark connected nan matter, a root adjacent to Bondi said only that nan missive was received by nan Department of Justice (DOJ).

In summation to looking for nan memo itself, nan Democratic missive besides asked for immoderate communications and different records regarding nan Boeing plane's transfer, and discussions of nan gift's ineligible justifications.

Democrats connected nan House Judiciary Committee person small powerfulness to compel Trump management officials to comply, fixed their position arsenic nan number statement successful nan chamber.

But Raskin has been scrutinizing Trump and his soul circle complete family overseas ties since nan erstwhile president’s first term.

The latest missive comes during Trump's negotiated sojourn to nan Middle East, wherever Qatar was 1 of his stops.

Trump has defended his acceptance of nan level connected aggregate occasions, arguing he would beryllium a "stupid person" to not return it, while bashing Democrats for their criticism.

"So nan truth that nan Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 craft to switch nan 40 twelvemonth aged Air Force One, temporarily, successful a very nationalist and transparent transaction, truthful bothers nan Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for nan plane. Anybody tin do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!!" Trump wrote connected Truth Social this week.

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Senate Republicans said they knew little erstwhile asked by Fox News Digital earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., skirted astir nan rumor during his astir caller play property conference.

"I'm not pursuing each nan twists and turns of nan charter jet. My knowing is it's not a individual gift for nan President of nan United States, and different nations springiness america gifts each nan time, but, I'm going to time off it to nan administration. They cognize overmuch much astir nan details," Johnson told reporters.

Fox News Digital reached retired to nan White House for remark but did not instantly perceive back.