Ranking member Durbin demands Justice Department legal memo on proposed Qatari airplane gift and seeks oversight hearings
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Summary
Sen. Dick Durbin asked Attorney General Bondi to produce a legal memorandum about the Trump administration's reported talks to accept a private jet from Qatar, argued the gift could implicate the Constitution's emoluments clause, and requested oversight hearings with Bondi and FBI Director Patel under oath.
Ranking Member Dick Durbin told the Senate Judiciary Committee he has requested a legal memorandum from Attorney General Bondi explaining why it would be legally permissible for the administration to accept a proposed aircraft gift from the State of Qatar, and he urged the committee to convene oversight hearings with both the attorney general and FBI Director Christopher Patel under oath.
Durbin said, “As President Trump confirmed a few days ago, his administration is in talks with the State of Qatar to receive a private jet as a gift from the Royal Family. This aircraft would be retrofitted to act as Air Force 1 for the remainder of Trump's term in office, and then ownership would be transferred to Trump personally and the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.” He added, “This gift clearly violates the Constitution, and the laws enacted by Congress to govern such gifts.”
Durbin told the committee he had requested production of the attorney general's legal memo and said there were “grave concerns with Attorney General Bondi participating in any matter involving the State of Qatar,” noting the transcript record that Bondi “was a registered foreign agent of that government who lobbied for the [Qatar] government prior to her confirmation as attorney general.” Durbin said he had also requested information about any ethics consultations regarding Bondi’s involvement.
He asked the committee to act promptly: “Mister chairman, I have 2 requests. First, let's convene a meeting with attorney general Bondi as soon as possible to discuss responding to our oversight request … Second, it's imperative that we hear from her as well and FBI Director Patel under oath. I hope that we can convene these oversight hearings as quickly as possible.”
Durbin also criticized what he described as the Justice Department's slow or cursory responses to oversight letters, saying he had sent multiple oversight requests and received few substantive replies. Other senators on the panel expressed a range of views on the department’s responsiveness; Chairman Grassley indicated willingness to assist members seeking information and to enter a departmental response into the record, but the committee adjourned before votes or formal scheduling could occur.
No committee vote or subpoena followed during the session recorded in the transcript. Durbin’s requests for the memorandum and for in‑person or sworn testimony were entered on the record as oversight requests and would require subsequent committee scheduling or further actions to compel production.