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Senate Democrats Demand Bondi Legal Memo on Controversial $400M Qatari Jet for Use as Air Force One

Senate Democrats have filed a public records request seeking a legal memo from Pam Bondi that reportedly cleared the White House to accept a Qatari-owned jet for use as Air Force One if ownership is transferred to President Trump’s presidential library. The roughly $400 million gift has drawn scrutiny over possible violations of the Foreign Emoluments Clause, security risks if work occurs abroad, and whether Bondi — a former registered agent for Qatar paid $115,000/month — sought ethics advice. DOJ declined to comment; senators say they turned to a FOIA-style request after being stonewalled.

09:33 PM, 11/25/2025Politics

Senate Democrats have filed a public records request seeking a legal memorandum from former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi that, they say, advised the White House it could accept a Qatari-owned aircraft for use as Air Force One under certain conditions.

The request, led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and co-signed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), asks the Justice Department to produce Bondi’s written advice to White House Counsel David Warrington and any related internal DOJ communications or correspondence with the White House.

The aircraft, reported to be a roughly $400 million gift from Qatar, has prompted constitutional, ethical and security concerns. Democrats note the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause generally bars the president from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval. Security experts have warned that building or modifying the jet overseas could create vulnerabilities to surveillance, and the plane would require extensive retrofitting to meet the protective specifications associated with Air Force One.

According to the filing, Bondi reportedly concluded it would be “legally permissible” to accept the donation provided ownership was transferred to President Trump’s presidential library before the end of a potential second term. The senators also requested records showing whether Bondi sought or received ethics advice before issuing her opinion; the filing notes Bondi previously served as a registered foreign agent for Qatar and was paid $115,000 per month under that contract.

The petition additionally references Bondi’s earlier firing of the Justice Department’s top career ethics official, a detail Democrats say raises questions about how ethics rules were considered.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse: “The ‘no transparency’ Trump administration has repeatedly thumbed its nose at legitimate oversight requests. FOIA-style requests are my last resort to get answers to questions that are important to the American public.”

The Justice Department declined to comment on the records request. The filing underscores persistent tensions between congressional overseers and the administration over access to documents and legal opinions.

What the senators are seeking:

  • Bondi’s legal memorandum to the White House and any drafts or internal notes.
  • Communications between DOJ and White House officials about accepting the aircraft.
  • Records showing whether Bondi obtained ethics guidance before issuing her opinion.

The controversy raises broader questions about presidential acceptance of foreign gifts, standards for securing and retrofitting presidential aircraft, and whether ethics safeguards were followed in this matter.

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