The Watchdog Group Democracy Defenders Fund led by an official of the Obama administration morality has formally requested a federal inquiry on behalf of President Trump in the approval of a katari luxury jet.
According to a memorandum received by CBS News, the group asked the Inspector General of Defense Department and the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether the Pentagon broke the laws and continued to inconsistencies by accepting gifts from Shri Trump from the Katri royal family. The memorandum was sent to Inspector General and Gao on Friday.
Democracy Defenders Fund is a Nonpartison Advocacy Group founded by Obama Ethics Czar Norm Eisen. Its memorandum said that the agencies should investigate whether the Defense Department has improperly invited its officers. Accept jet aircraft And allegedly transferred $ 934 million into funding from a nuclear missile program to help back the aircraft.
The group said in a 10 -page memorandum, “If this is true, it would mean that the DOD is removing the important nuclear defense fund from a foreign government to give an unprecedented gift to the US President.”
earlier this year, President Trump confirmed The Katri royal family was donating Boeing 747-8 for their use. At a price of $ 400 million, Jumbo Jet is scheduled to donate to Shri Trump’s President Library after the end of his tenure.
“A lot of things are wrong with this picture are wrong with this picture,” the chief lawyer of morality and anti -corruption in Democracy Defenders Fund, knowing where to start. ” “The fact that taxpayers are now funding a fifth Air Force one, a foreign monarchy, public trust, fiscal priorities and a shocking misuse of national security interests,” said the canter.
The memorandum by the Democracy Defenders Fund said that the jet was fruitless and unnecessary, stating that the US Air Force operates two 747 jets as Air Force, and two replacement aircraft were authorized in $ 3.9 billion in 2018. Despite the existence of both an active and future fleet, Mr. Trump chased the $ 400 million Qatari aircraft, which he referred to as a “gift” in May.
The President said, “If we can get 747 as an contribution to use in our Defense Department during a few years, while they are building another, I think it was a very good gesture.”
The memorandum by the Democracy Defenders Fund also argued that under the guidance of the Department of Justice, agencies have been stopped from accepting gifts that would promote cost in future financial years, as the case with Qatari Jet seems to be a case.
Memo said, “The Air Force has already made it clear that Katri Jet is not able to work as Air Force in its current position.”
The group also argued that even though it was legal, “The use of a legal authority (of the Department of Defense) to accept a foreign gift, which does not fit for the purpose and then spends a billion dollars from appropriation for nuclear preventive, which will be useless to upgrade the aircraft, a gross mismanagement of funds and (for the efforts of the Defense Department)
A MoU between Qatar and the Defense Department viewed by CBS News underlined the “unconditional donation” of a Boeing 747–8 jumbo aircraft.
Earlier this month, the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense were signed. It does not specifically mention the Air Force one, but says that jet can be used by the Pentagon “it is appropriate in any way.”
The Inspector General of the Defense Department refused to comment.
