During her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Pam Bondi, Donald Trump‘s nominee for attorney general, stated that she would not utilize the US law department to target anyone based on their political beliefs.
She told lawmakers, “There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice,” in response to their constant questions about her allegiance to Trump. “I will not politicise that office.”
However, Bondi did not explicitly rule out opening investigations into people the president-elect has had disagreements with. If approved to the position by a Senate vote, Bondi would become the country’s top law enforcement official.
She responded, “It would be irresponsible of me to make a commitment regarding anything,” when asked if she would look into Jack Smith, the man behind two of Trump’s criminal charges.
Throughout the election campaign, Trump made several threats to look into and perhaps bring charges against his political rivals.
Throughout the hearing, Bondi emphasized her commitment to maintaining her independence. Given the Republican majority in the chamber, Bondi is expected to be approved as the 87th US attorney general.
However, she backed Trump’s assertion that the department “had been weaponized for years and years and years” and that federal prosecutions against him amounted to political persecution.
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa claimed that the department had been “weaponized” under the Biden administration, especially against Trump, and that it had become “infected with political decision-making.”
Bondi concurred with the opinion of other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who repeated these statements.
Meanwhile, Bondi was asked by Democratic senators if he would refuse the president-elect.
Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse informed Bondi, “The concern is that weaponization of the justice department may well occur under your tenure.” “We want to make sure that’s not the case, that you remain independent.”
Additionally, they questioned FBI director nominee Kash Patel, who would report to Bondi if confirmed.
His “enemies list” is a list of people the FBI nominee has stated he will target if confirmed. Bondi said she had not heard the remarks and that the justice department would not have such a list when several senators questioned her about them.
While condemning “any violence on a law enforcement officer in this country,” Bondi also informed the committee that she would consider pardoning Capitol rioters on a “case by case basis.”
The Department of Justice, which upholds federal laws, is led by the attorney general. Bondi would advise the president and chiefs of executive agencies on legal matters if appointed to the position.
Although it has not yet been set, her confirmation vote is anticipated to take place in the next several days.
Marco Rubio, who is anticipated to be confirmed as Trump’s secretary of state, was also questioned by senators on Wednesday.
He pledged to restructure US foreign policy to prioritize American interests and cautioned that Washington must alter its direction to prevent growing more dependent on China.