Trump’s Attorney General nominee questioned on loyalty to President-elect
Donald Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, Pam Bondy, said during her confirmation hearing on Wednesday that she would not use the US Justice Department to target people based on their politics.
“There will never be an enemies list within the Justice Department,” he told senators as he was repeatedly pressed on his loyalty to Trump. “I will not politicize that office.”
But Bondy, who would become the nation’s top law enforcement official if confirmed to the role by a Senate vote, did not directly rule out launching investigations into people with whom the president-elect has clashed.
When asked whether she would investigate Jack Smith, who led two criminal cases against Trump, she said, “It would be irresponsible for me to make a commitment regarding anything.”
Trump repeatedly threatened to investigate and prosecute his political enemies during the election campaign.
Bondy, who is likely to be confirmed as the 87th U.S. Attorney General given the Republican majority in the chamber, stressed during the hearing that she would remain independent.
But he echoed Trump’s view that the federal prosecution against him was political persecution, saying the department had been “weaponized for years and years and years”.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, said the department has become “infected by political decision-making” and said it has been “weaponized” under the Biden administration, particularly against Trump.
These details were repeated by other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Bondi agreed with their assessment.
Meanwhile, questions from Democratic senators focused on whether Bondi would say ‘no’ to the president-elect.
Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse told Bondi, “The concern is that the Justice Department could be weaponized under your tenure.” “We want to make sure that doesn’t happen, that you stay free.”
They also focused part of their questioning on FBI Director nominee Kash Patel, who will report to Bondy if confirmed.
The FBI nominee has said he has an “enemies list” of people he will pursue if confirmed. Several senators asked Bondy about those comments, but he said he had not heard them and that the Justice Department would not have such a list.
Bondi also told the committee she would consider a possible pardon of the Capitol rioters “on a case-by-case basis,” but added that she condemns “any violence directed at a law enforcement officer in this country.”
The Attorney General serves as the head of the Justice Department, which enforces federal laws. If confirmed in the role, Bondi will provide legal advice and opinion to the President and heads of executive departments.
His confirmation vote has not yet been scheduled, but is expected to take place in the coming days.
On Wednesday, senators also questioned Marco Rubio, who is expected to be confirmed as Trump’s secretary of state.
He warned that Washington must change its course to avoid becoming overly dependent on China and promised a shift in US foreign policy to focus on US interests.
