Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. Attorney General, promised on Wednesday to keep the Department of Justice (DOJ) free from political influence, asserting that it would not be used to target individuals based on their political beliefs. However, she avoided directly addressing questions about investigating those who have criticized or opposed the president-elect.
“There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice,” Bondi told the Senate Judiciary Committee during her confirmation hearing. “I will not politicize that office. I will not target people simply because of their political affiliation.”
Bondi, 59, who served as Florida’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, previously assisted Trump during his impeachment trial in 2019, which ended in his acquittal. She portrayed herself as an independent-minded prosecutor, focusing on issues such as the opioid crisis and human trafficking. However, when pressed by Democratic lawmakers about investigating figures such as Special Counsel Jack Smith, Bondi declined to rule out such actions. Smith was responsible for bringing two criminal cases against Trump, both of which were dismissed.
Bondi defended the actions of the DOJ under Trump’s administration, criticizing Smith’s investigation as evidence of partisan “weaponization” of the department. During the election, Trump had repeatedly vowed to use the DOJ to target individuals who investigated or criticized him.
Democrats, however, questioned Bondi’s independence, citing the cases of former attorneys general who were removed from office after failing to intervene in matters important to Trump. “The concern is that weaponization of the DOJ may occur under your tenure,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “We want to ensure you remain independent.”
Bondi received support from Republican senators, who praised her for her dedication to restoring the DOJ’s reputation. “Help us restore legitimacy to the Department of Justice,” said Senator John Kennedy. Bondi emphasized her commitment to addressing violent crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism, as well as tackling the “overwhelming crisis at the border.”
Bondi also acknowledged Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election but continued to express concerns about potential irregularities in key states like Pennsylvania. Additionally, she stated that any future pardons related to the January 6th Capitol riot would be considered on a “case-by-case” basis.
When asked about Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel for FBI Director, Bondi defended Patel, although she did not directly address allegations that Patel supported the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory. Patel, a Trump loyalist, has denied any connection to the conspiracy.
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