Bondi Faces Grilling in Confirmation Hearing for Attorney General Under Trump

Pam Bondi, Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, assured senators that she would not use the Department of Justice for political targeting during her confirmation hearing. Despite this, she refrained from committing to avoiding investigations into Trump's rivals, as Republican senators echoed concerns about political weaponization under the Biden administration.

In a tense confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Pam Bondi, nominee for Attorney General under President-elect Donald Trump, faced probing questions regarding her loyalty to the incoming president and the potential for political influence within the Justice Department. Bondi reassured the Senate committee that she would not create an "enemies list," emphasizing, "There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice," as she battled repeated inquiries about her commitment to maintaining the department’s integrity.

However, when questioned about investigating figures such as Jack Smith, who spearheaded criminal cases against Trump, Bondi took a cautious stance, stating, "It would be irresponsible of me to make a commitment regarding anything." This remark has raised eyebrows among critics, as Trump has a history of suggesting investigations against his political opponents.

During the hearing, Bondi stressed her intent to maintain independence in her role, acknowledging the perspective that federal prosecutions of Trump reflected political bias. Echoing sentiments from Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, Bondi noted, "The department has been weaponised for years and years and years," a critique leveled at the Justice Department’s handling of cases during the Biden administration.

As Democratic senators expressed concerns over the potential for politicization during Bondi's tenure, particularly regarding her FBI director nominee, Kash Patel, whose comments about an "enemies list" were a focal point of discussion, Bondi insisted she had not heard those remarks and confirmed that no such list would exist under her leadership.

In addition to her assurances on political neutrality, Bondi mentioned her willingness to evaluate potential pardons for individuals involved in the Capitol riots on a "case by case basis," while firmly condemning any violence against law enforcement.

Currently, no vote has been scheduled for her confirmation, but Bondi is anticipated to be confirmed swiftly given the Republican majority in the Senate. Alongside her, Senators also interrogated Marco Rubio, another nominee for a key position in Trump's administration, who pledged to reshape U.S. foreign policy with a stronger focus on national interests and a reduction in dependence on China.