Fascist Boozehound Hegseth could be 'on the hook' for hundreds of millions on Qatari jet

Hegseth could be 'on the hook' for hundreds of millions on Qatari jet, says 
Raskin
by Ellen Mitchell - 06/06/25 1:18 PM ET
 

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee has warned Defense 
Secretary Pete Hegseth that he could be "on the hook" for hundreds of 
millions of dollars for having accepted a luxury jet from the Qatari 
government.

In a letter sent Wednesday, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md. ) argued that 
Hegseth's formal acceptance of the Boeing 747 jetliner last month — a move 
made so the Air Force can upgrade its security measures so it may 
eventually be used as Air Force One — violates the Constitution Emoluments 
Clause. The rule bars federal officials from accepting financial benefits 
from foreign governments without congressional approval.

"I write now to urge and advise you to promptly mitigate these 
violations—and your own personal legal exposure—by either returning the 
plane to the Qatari government or promptly seeking Congress's consent to 
accept it, " Raskin wrote.

The Pentagon announced on May 21 it officially accepted the 13-year-old 
luxury jet previously used by the Qatari royal family, a supposed "free, " 
gift that could be used to supplement the aging Air Force One fleet, 
according to President Trump.

The transfer has been criticized by U. S. lawmakers on both sides of the 
aisle, who say it raises ethical and corruption questions in addition to 
costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to retrofit the plane 
into a secure and working Air Force One.

Others have focused on the national security risks of such a gift, saying 
the aircraft would have to be swept for listening devices. Some have 
worried that in Trump's push to use the plane before he leaves office, the 
Air Force will rush security upgrades and cut corners on protection 
systems.

A former professor of constitutional law and former ranking member of the 
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Raskin has focused his 
criticisms on the ethical issues around accepting the Qatari plane, 
repeatedly arguing that it requires congressional approval.

"The Constitution is perfectly clear: no present 'of any kind whatever' 
from a foreign state without Congressional permission, " Raskin wrote on 
the social platform X last month after news of the gift broke.

Congress has the authority to block federal officials from receiving gifts 
from foreign governments, as granted in the Constitution, but the 
government arm has not held any formal vote to accept the plane or not.

Democrats largely have been unsuccessful in stopping Trump from accepting 
the Qatari jet. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N. Y. ) last month 
attempted to pass a bill that would bar the use of a foreign jet as Air 
Force One, but that effort failed.

Raskin, along with other Democrat lawmakers, have introduced resolutions to 
condemn the gift, but Republicans have blocked them from being considered 
on the floor.

Making matters more complicated, Democrats, given their status as the 
minority party, can't convene any oversight hearings that would force 
government officials to testify on the issue, and their colleagues across 
the aisle have not called any such hearings themselves.

In his letter, Raskin says Hegseth is in violation of the Foreign Gifts and 
Decorations Act, which could prompt the Attorney General to bring civil 
action and penalties against him.

Under that law, government officials can accept certain gifts up to $480 in 
value, and they cannot "request or otherwise encourage the tender of a gift 
or decoration" from another country.

In violating the act, Hegseth can face a penalty "not to exceed the retail 
value of the gift improperly solicited or received plus $5,000. "

"In other words, you may be on the hook for $400 million (plus $5,000) even 
for a jumbo jet that you accepted on behalf of the President but do not get 
to personally enjoy, " Raskin writes, referring to the cost of a new Boeing 
747-8 jet.

"If you truly believe that there is nothing untoward about the President 
asking for and receiving a $400 million 'flying palace' from a foreign 
power, then you should let Congress and the President's Republican 
colleagues vote to approve the transaction, " he adds. "If you're unwilling 
to do that, you must return the plane to Qatar. "