Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, faced pointed questions from Senate Democrats on Wednesday about her loyalty to Trump and her potential to reshape the Justice Department. Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and a longtime ally of Trump, is undergoing a two-day confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Democrats expressed concerns about Bondi's history of supporting Trump's false claims of election fraud in 2020 and her comments about pursuing Trump's political enemies if confirmed. "The president-elect has made it clear that he values one thing above all else in an attorney general: loyalty," said Sen. Dick Durbin, the committee's top Democrat. "I fear he found someone who can pass his loyalty test."
Bondi, 58, has been a prominent figure in Trump's orbit. She served as his personal attorney during his first impeachment trial in 2020 and has frequently appeared as a staunch defender of Trump on conservative media. Her nomination comes after Trump's first pick for the role, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew following allegations of misconduct.
Unlike Gaetz, Bondi brings substantial prosecutorial experience to the table. She served nearly two decades as a local prosecutor in Florida before being elected as the state's attorney general in 2011. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the committee's Republican chair, praised her qualifications, stating, "Bondi is prepared to refocus the Justice Department's attention where it ought to be: on enforcing the law and protecting Americans' safety."
Democrats, however, questioned whether Bondi could uphold the Justice Department's independence. Concerns were heightened by her previous statements that investigators who pursued Trump would face prosecution. During her 2023 appearance on Fox News, Bondi said, "The Department of Justice, the prosecutors will be prosecuted. The bad ones. The investigators will be investigated."
Her confirmation hearing also touched on Trump's plans to use the Justice Department to scrutinize his political adversaries. Trump has repeatedly claimed the department was "weaponized" against him, citing investigations into his handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Bondi has echoed these claims, fueling fears among Democrats that the department could become a tool for political retribution under her leadership.
Bondi refrained from addressing these concerns directly during her hearing but emphasized her commitment to serving the American people. She would "do my best every day to work tirelessly for the American people," Bondi said during her opening statement.
If confirmed, Bondi would oversee more than 100,000 Justice Department employees, including the FBI. She would also be tasked with defending Trump administration policies in court and enforcing federal laws, including civil and voting rights protections.
Bondi's close ties to Trump's legal team were also a focal point of the hearing. Several of Trump's personal attorneys, including Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, have been nominated for top Justice Department roles. Critics argue that such appointments raise questions about impartiality and the potential for political interference within the department.
Despite these concerns, Bondi's confirmation appears likely given the narrow Republican majority in the Senate. Her deep ties to Trump and his administration, however, remain a source of contention.
The hearing, which began Wednesday morning, will continue Thursday. Bondi's responses to questions about her independence and vision for the Justice Department will likely shape the debate over her nomination.
