Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and corporate lobbyist, was confirmed as the U.S. Attorney General, placing a staunch ally of President Donald Trump at the helm of the Justice Department (DOJ).
After the 54-46 vote, including a “yay” vote from Democrat John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Bondi’s appointment comes amidst a DOJ already troubled by the dismissals of career employees perceived as disloyal to Trump. Bondi will be responsible for overseeing the FBI, which is currently experiencing turmoil due to scrutiny of agents involved in Trump investigations.
Context
Adding to the Justice Department’s turbulent environment, FBI agents recently sued the department over efforts to compile a list of employees involved in the January 6 prosecutions, fearing it could lead to widespread dismissals. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove had ordered a review process to determine if additional personnel actions were necessary. This move followed the recent firings of senior FBI executives, prosecutors on the special counsel’s team, and a group of prosecutors in the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office.
What To Know
Republicans have lauded Bondi as a highly qualified leader who would bring much-needed changes to a department they believe unfairly pursued Trump through multiple investigations that resulted in two indictments.
However, Bondi’s close ties with Trump and her past defense of his actions have drawn intense scrutiny. During her confirmation hearing, Bondi assured Democrats that her decisions would be free of political bias, yet she also refused to rule out potential investigations into Trump’s adversaries. She echoed Trump’s sentiments that the Justice Department had been “weaponized” against him, insisting that such misuse of power needed to end.
Democratic Sen. Peter Welch from Vermont acknowledged Bondi’s qualifications but expressed grave concerns about Trump’s influence over her decisions. Welch emphasized the importance of straightforward, candid advice over loyalty oaths demanded by the president, particularly concerning the prosecution of political adversaries.
Bondi, a longstanding figure in Trump’s orbit, has been a vocal defender of the president on various news programs. In a 2023 Fox News appearance, she suggested bad Justice Department prosecutors would face investigation under the Trump administration.
Special counsel Jack Smith, who dropped charges against Trump after his election win, maintained that politics played no part in his prosecution decisions, upholding departmental policies that prohibit criminal cases against a sitting president. As Bondi stands on the brink of confirmation, the Justice Department’s future direction remains a focal point of national attention and contention.
What People Are Saying
Republican Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi: “If confirmed, my overriding objective would be to return the Department of Justice to its core mission of keeping Americans safe and vigorously enforcing the law […] Under my watch, the partisan weaponization of the Department of Justice will end. America must have one tier of justice for all.”
Democratic Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono during Bondi’s confirmation hearing: “You can’t say who won the 2020 election. It’s disturbing you can’t give voice to that fact.”
What Happens Next
Throughout her confirmation hearing, Bondi repeatedly vowed not to pursue political retribution, asserting that the public, not the president, would be her client.
Yet, her rhetoric often aligned with Trump’s campaign themes, accusing the Justice Department of targeting Trump since 2016 and launching numerous investigations against him.
“They targeted Donald Trump,” Bondi told lawmakers. “They went after him — actually starting back in 2016, they targeted his campaign. They have launched countless investigations against him.” She added, “If I am attorney general, I will not politicize that office.”
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