Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Objecting To Senate Republicans’ Attempt To Confirm Department Of Justice Nominee By Unanimous Consent, Continuing His Hold On DOJ Political Nominees Over Politicization Concerns And Qatari Jet Scandal

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding his objection to Senate Republicans’ attempt to confirm a political nominee to the Department of Justice via unanimous consent. Schumer is continuing to hold all DOJ political nominees following the Qatari luxury jet bribe. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

I am reserving the right to object for two reasons.

First, a few weeks ago, I announced I am placing holds on all DOJ political nominations because the Attorney General refuses to answer fundamental questions about Donald Trump seeking a luxury plane from Qatar to use as Air Force One.  This is a grave national security threat, as everyone knows. The bottom line is very simple on this plane: the President of the United States accepted a luxury jet from a foreign government to use as his personal Air Force One. It wasn't just unethical. It reeked of corruption, of bribery, and threatened our national security.

That whole plane will have to be taken apart piece by piece to make sure listening devices aren't in it, which will be even more expensive, and yet the Justice Department didn't look the other way. They approved it. That's so typical of this Justice Department.

It’s something that I think if a Democratic president did, the Senator from Iowa would be the first on the floor to stand up to object. Now, we hear silence.

They won't even answer serious questions about this. This plane should be withdrawn, and I have introduced legislation to do that. But that's not the only reason.

Donald Trump has turned the Justice Department upside down – it is politicized, it is weaponized, it is hollowed out.  

Donald Trump and his acolytes in the Justice Department are less interested in prosecuting criminals and more interested in prosecuting Trump’s perceived political opponents.

This is an absolute disgrace. Both sides in past administrations, Democratic and Republican, have worked together to uphold the rule of law at DOJ.

But now, the rule of law has been replaced by loyalty tests.

Career public servants who have dedicated years to prosecuting criminals are shoved aside because when Donald Trump asks them to break the law, to undo the law, to set aside rule of law, they refuse.

Investigations and prosecutions are dictated by political convenience and not justice.

And now, Republicans want the Senate to quietly rubber-stamp a political nominee for the DOJ by unanimous consent –no debate, no scrutiny. On an important position like this, it should happen regularly that there should be debate. But when this Justice Department, as horrible as it is, as political as it is, as destructive of American values as it has been, no way.

The nominee is a former staffer for the very Senator making the request. Now, as my colleague noted, in the past he's been up there when other administrations made ethical violations and did the wrong thing in his judgment.

But now there's just silence from my colleague and from all the Republican Senators. They know what's going on. But blind obeisance to Donald Trump is wrong when it comes to something as sacred as this – the rule of law and a Justice Department that seeks to enforce the law, not just go after political enemies.

If Donald Trump and Republicans want to poison and politicize our justice system, I’m not participating and I object.

And I add one more point, with deep regret: what is happening to the Judiciary Committee –the Justice Department – is shameful.  Inspectors General have been dismissed with no accountability. Again, my colleague used to uphold the inspectors general and praise them, but tons of them are dismissed now. The American Bar Association has been sidelined. And today, up in the Justice Department, unqualified judicial nominees – some barely out of law school – are being rushed through confirmation.

This is not how the Senate should work. It didn’t work that way when there was a Democratic president and my friend was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. There should be no special treatment, none – not for political allies, not for former staffers, not for anyone. What

Trump and Bondi are doing to the Justice Department and the rule of law is dangerous, it undermines public trust, erodes the rule of law, the Senate should not be complicit.

I object.

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