HAMILTON, Canada

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Tuesday that he has blocked all political nominations to the Department of Justice (DOJ) until the Trump administration responds to questions about accepting a luxury jet from Qatar.

Schumer raised concerns after it was revealed that the Qatari government offered the aircraft to serve as Air Force One, according to media reports.

President Donald Trump described the plane as "a very nice gesture" and said it would eventually be donated to his presidential library.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer said: "In light of the deeply troubling news of a possible Qatari-funded Air Force One and the reports that the Attorney General personally signed off on this clearly unethical deal, I am announcing a hold on all DOJ political nominees until we get more answers."

According to an NBC News report, the DOJ declared the gift legal in a memo approved by Attorney General Pam Bondi, but the department has refused to release the memo.

Schumer said Bondi must testify before Congress to explain why the gift does not violate the US Constitution's emoluments clause, which bars presidents from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.

He further vowed to maintain the hold until "complete and comprehensive answers" are provided.

Before his Middle East trip, Trump defended the move by saying: "I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer."