Pam Bondi faces tough questions in confirmation hearing
Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, faced intense scrutiny from Senate Democrats during her confirmation hearing
Updated: 3:21 PM CST Jan 15, 2025
Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, faced a contentious confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, with Democrats questioning her impartiality and Republicans defending her qualifications.See excerpts from the hearing in the video above”I will fight every day to restore confidence and integrity to the Department of Justice — and each of its components,” Bondi said.”Under my watch, the partisan weaponization of the Department of Justice will be gone.”Senate Republicans, including Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, supported Bondi’s nomination.”Mrs. Bondi is highly qualified, and of course, we all know a change is desperately needed,” Grassley said.Democrats expressed concerns about Bondi’s ability to remain independent from Trump, given her long-time alliance with him.”You have no intention, no intention of pursuing people on the basis of them being a political opponent?” said Sen. Peter Welch, of Vermont.”No one will be prosecuted, investigated because they’re a political opponent,” Bondi responded.Sen. Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, pressed Bondi on her previous comments about prosecuting investigators involved in cases against Trump. Bondi stated in a TV interview that “the prosecutors will be prosecuted — the bad ones.””I am just asking if you consider Jack Smith to be one of the people. How about Liz Cheney? How about Merrick Garland?” Hirono asked.”Senator, I am not going to go into hypotheticals. No one has been pre-judged,” Bondi replied.Bondi also addressed questions about pardoning Jan. 6, 2021, rioters convicted of violent crimes.”I will look at each case and advise on a case-by-case basis,” Bondi said.Bondi refused to comment on whether she would enforce the TikTok ban set to begin on Sunday, as Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the law from going into effect.Bondi needs 50 votes to be confirmed in the Senate, where Republicans currently hold a majority.
WASHINGTON —Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, faced a contentious confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, with Democrats questioning her impartiality and Republicans defending her qualifications.
See excerpts from the hearing in the video above
“I will fight every day to restore confidence and integrity to the Department of Justice — and each of its components,” Bondi said.
“Under my watch, the partisan weaponization of the Department of Justice will be gone.”
Senate Republicans, including Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, supported Bondi’s nomination.
“Mrs. Bondi is highly qualified, and of course, we all know a change is desperately needed,” Grassley said.
Democrats expressed concerns about Bondi’s ability to remain independent from Trump, given her long-time alliance with him.
“You have no intention, no intention of pursuing people on the basis of them being a political opponent?” said Sen. Peter Welch, of Vermont.
“No one will be prosecuted, investigated because they’re a political opponent,” Bondi responded.
Sen. Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, pressed Bondi on her previous comments about prosecuting investigators involved in cases against Trump. Bondi stated in a TV interview that “the prosecutors will be prosecuted — the bad ones.”
“I am just asking if you consider Jack Smith to be one of the people. How about Liz Cheney? How about Merrick Garland?” Hirono asked.
“Senator, I am not going to go into hypotheticals. No one has been pre-judged,” Bondi replied.
Bondi also addressed questions about pardoning Jan. 6, 2021, rioters convicted of violent crimes.
“I will look at each case and advise on a case-by-case basis,” Bondi said.
Bondi refused to comment on whether she would enforce the TikTok ban set to begin on Sunday, as Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the law from going into effect.
Bondi needs 50 votes to be confirmed in the Senate, where Republicans currently hold a majority.
