Attorney General Pam Bondi gave Donald Trump the green light to accept a $400 million “flying palace” as a gift from Qatar.

ABC News reported that the Qatar royal family is expected to gift Trump a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet ahead of his big trip to the Middle East, where he is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar to secure “economic agreements.”

Bondi and Trump’s top White House lawyer, David Warrington, have already smoothed the legal details. They concluded that the gift is “legally permissible” because it is being handed to the United States Air Force and then will be transferred to Trump’s presidential library foundation. They also determined it does not constitute a bribe because the gift does not hinge on an official act.

  • frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    28
    ·
    18 hours ago

    Is the rule really written that it needs to be a bribe? I’m a state employee and we can’t even accept food from vendors under conflict of interest rules for gifts, there’s no need for any bribe to occur for it to count.

    • MagosInformaticus@sopuli.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      ·
      16 hours ago

      No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
      US Constitution section 9 clause 8.

      I’d say that’s pretty clear an official act to the giver’s benefit is not a necessary element of the prohibited conduct. If something is offered, both houses of congress must vote to allow it or the gift must be declined.

      • Billiam@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        6 hours ago

        Clearly if the Founders didn’t want SCOTUS the President to be given an RV airplane, they would have said as much!

        -Clearance Thomas

      • Don_alForno@feddit.org
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        16 hours ago

        Yeah, but, you see, it’s the air force that’s getting the gift, it’s just meant for orange Hitler’s exclusive use. That’s clearly not a gift to him personally. /wink

        • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          15 hours ago

          And they’ve stated in advance that the Air Force won’t continue to own it after Trump to benefit the United States.

    • Auli@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      17 hours ago

      You see you low born can’t get anything but higher ups.