Pam Bondi's confirmation as U.S. Attorney General is under heavy scrutiny.
During her Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on January 15, Pam Bondi avoided confirming Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 election, the Independent reported.
This led to intense questioning from Democratic senators about her ability to remain impartial and acknowledge past election results.
During the session, Democratic senators vigorously questioned Bondi's independence from Trump, especially concerning her views on the 2020 election outcomes and the January 6 insurrection. They stressed the importance of an attorney general who can firmly stand independent of political pressures. Bondi, however, skirted around direct answers on these subjects, maintaining a vague stance.
Senator Alex Padilla and others pressed Bondi on her prior claims concerning election fraud. Padilla in particular challenged her to discuss the evidence she had previously touted, which she declined to detail during the hearing. Senator Dick Durbin and Adam Schiff also questioned her about upholding the Constitution without bias, to which her responses remained evasive.
Bondi did state, "President Joe Biden is the president of the United States, he was duly sworn in, and he is the president of the United States." However, when pushed to verify Biden’s win specifically in the 2020 election, she reiterated without commitment: "Joe Biden is the president of the United States."
Amidst questions, Bondi defended the integrity and suitability of Kash Patel, Trump’s choice for FBI director, against concerns he might politicize the bureau. She praised Patel’s background in law and intelligence. When addressed about potential investigations into Trump's opponents as suggested by the president, Bondi labeled such discussions as "hypothetical."
Senator Mazie Hirono explicitly stated her concern: “You can’t say who won the 2020 election. It’s disturbing you can’t give voice to that fact.” This was emblematic of the challenges Democratic senators posed about Bondi's acknowledgment of election outcomes.
During one intense exchange, Bondi expressed her frustration, stating, "You cut me off when I was speaking. […] I’m not going to be bullied by you. […] I guess you don’t want to hear my answer." She stood her ground, emphasizing her resolve not to yield to pressure.
Schiff confronted Bondi about the possibility of politically motivated investigations, to which she responded, “What I can tell you is I will never play politics.” However, her assurance did little to quell concerns from the committee about her role in a potentially restructured Justice Department.
Senator Richard Blumenthal probed if Bondi recognized the essential requirements of being attorney general. Bondi bluntly replied, "No, I don’t," stressing that she speaks “the truth” and is “not going to say anything I need to say to get confirmed by this body.”
Through it all, Bondi endeavored to present herself as dedicated to legal integrity and independence. "I’ll cut to the chase. You’re talking about Kash Patel. […] I know that Kash Patel has had 60 jury trials as a public defender, as a prosecutor, he has great intel experience [… and] I believe Kash is the right person, in the right time, for this job.”
In light of the Senate's probing, Bondi’s nomination remains contentious. With questions lingering over her recognition of the 2020 election results and commitment to apolitical justice, the path forward appears fraught with challenges for the nominee. The confirmation process highlighted deep-seated concerns over potential political biases and their influence on judicial responsibilities.
