6 Key Insights from Pam Bondi’s Attorney General Confirmation Hearing

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi answered questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 15 during her confirmation hearing to become the next U.S. Attorney General.

The hearing saw bipartisan concern regarding the potential politicization of the Department of Justice (DOJ), with Bondi assuring members that she would not partake in such actions.

Democratic members often inquired about Bondi’s relationships with President-elect Donald Trump and her commitment to keeping the DOJ autonomous from the White House. Additionally, she faced questions concerning her lobbying history, warrantless searches, illegal immigration, and national security.

While the Senate is anticipated to confirm Bondi, the hearing brought to light several key topics:

Weaponization of DOJ

Bondi firmly opposed the notion of weaponizing the DOJ and fielded numerous questions regarding the department’s capability to operate free from political pressure.

Initially, committee ranking member Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) commented that Bondi’s qualifications were not being contested, but rather her capacity to reject Trump’s directives.

Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Kennedy (R-La.) rebuked the Biden administration’s DOJ for pursuing legal action against Trump through former special counsel Jack Smith.

Kennedy warned that the decision to prosecute Trump was a dangerous precedent and cautioned that it could lead to the prosecution of President Joe Biden’s associates for alleged misconduct.

“You’ve got to address this,” Kennedy told Bondi.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) asked if this meant Smith, Attorney General Merrick Garland, or former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) would be included.

“Nobody will be predetermined as guilty or innocent if I am confirmed,” Bondi replied.

She later informed Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) that “no one will face prosecution or investigation simply for being a political opponent.”

“We have seen this unfold over the last four years under this administration,” she said.

“Targeting parents at school board meetings must end,” she added.

Bondi assured Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) that she would investigate an FBI memo regarding traditionalist Catholics.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) asked Bondi whether the era of Crossfire Hurricane would come to an end if she became Attorney General, referring to the FBI investigation into Trump’s 2016 campaign that was later deemed baseless.

“Absolutely,” she confirmed.

Trump has called for reforms to FISA courts as part of his agenda to “dismantle the deep state.”

Bondi indicated to Graham that she would consider reauthorization, acknowledging that FISA is “a crucial tool.”

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) raised concerns about federal surveillance of Americans without a warrant.

Bondi concurred with Lee, stating that searches should not be conducted without probable cause.

Trump and the 2020 Presidential Election

Bondi, who was an adviser for Trump’s 2020 campaign, faced questions from several senators about whether Trump had won the 2020 presidential election. She responded by affirming that Biden is the current president and confirmed the peaceful transfer of power.

“I accept the results. I acknowledge that Joe Biden is the President of the United States,” she declared to Durbin. “However, I can share what I personally witnessed during my time in Pennsylvania as an advocate for the campaign.”

Bondi stated that she “observed numerous issues,” insisting that both parties should prioritize election integrity.

When Hirono questioned her, she accused Bondi of being unable to assert who won the election, prompting Bondi to indicate her microphone but refrain from further comment.

“It’s troubling that you can’t confirm that fact,” Hirono said.

Bondi had previously told Hirono that Biden was indeed president.

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) pressed Bondi for a definitive yes or no confirmation regarding evidence of election fraud in the 2020 election.

Bondi did not answer with a simple yes or no, but she made several statements before being cut off by Padilla.

In her response, Bondi stated she had been to Pennsylvania but did not clarify whether she would retract her statement, leading Padilla to insist on a yes or no response.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) asked Bondi if she could tell Trump that he lost the 2020 election.

She responded, “What I can tell you is I refuse to engage in politicization; you are attempting to ensnare me in a trick question.”

Kash Patel

Numerous senators inquired about Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, referencing a supposed enemies list he mentioned in his book “Government Gangsters.”

Bondi claimed she was unfamiliar with the comments but clarified that Patel would serve under her leadership and conform to the rule of law.

“There will not be an enemies list within the Department of Justice,” she assured Whitehouse.

Furthermore, Bondi expressed confidence in Patel’s qualifications for the role, highlighting his legal background and experience in the intelligence sector.

On January 15, Patel shared a video on social media showcasing Bondi praising him.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) confronted Bondi about the mentioned enemies list, suggesting she should assert that Patel isn’t fit to be the FBI director.

Jan. 6 Pardons

If confirmed, Bondi will have a role in advising Trump regarding potential pardons. In recent months, speculation has arisen about whether Trump might pardon individuals charged in relation to the January 6, 2021, Capitol events.

Blumenthal emphasized that as the people’s representative, Bondi must voice her opinion that “insurrectionists who resorted to violence on January 6 should not receive pardons.”

Durbin also raised the topic of pardoning those convicted of assaults on police officers.

In her reply, Bondi stated, “I haven’t reviewed any of those cases … If confirmed and asked for advice, I’ll examine all relevant files.”

She denounced “any form of violence” against law enforcement officials.

Bondi also assured Durbin that she would provide counsel on a “case-by-case” basis.

When queried by Schiff, she refrained from stating whether she would caution Trump against offering blanket pardons.

“I haven’t evaluated any of those cases,” was part of her response.

Immigration

Throughout the hearing, Bondi faced several inquiries regarding immigration from both Democrats and Republicans. For instance, Graham brought up an illegal immigrant who was found guilty of killing a nursing student in Georgia, Laken Riley.

Bondi emphasized that the consequences of illegal immigrant offenders are borne by Americans, pointing out that Riley’s murderer had no right to be in the country.

During her exchange with Padilla, he questioned her about birthright citizenship, referencing the 14th Amendment’s clause that provides citizenship to all individuals born in the U.S., including those born to undocumented parents.

In response to Padilla’s inquiry regarding the citizenship clause, she retorted, “I’m not here to complete your homework.”

Padilla pressed Bondi on whether she would stand in defense of birthright citizenship, to which she stated she would need to review the subject. Padilla expressed disbelief and commented that her need to examine the 14th Amendment did little to boost his confidence in her capabilities as U.S. Attorney General.

Hirono also addressed Trump’s assertion in 2023 about illegal immigrants “contaminating the blood of our nation.”

While Bondi claimed she was not informed of those remarks, she subsequently stated, “We are a nation made up of immigrants.”

“Do I think immigrants are harming our country? No,” she concluded.