Pam Bondi, former Florida attorney general and staunch Trump ally, pledged to resist White House influence if confirmed as attorney general. During her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Bondi aimed to reassure the Senate Judiciary Committee of her commitment to maintaining the Justice Department's independence, despite aligning with much of the president-elect's rhetoric.
Bondi emphasized her intent to uphold the policy limiting White House-Justice Department interactions to prevent political interference. “I will engage with the White House counsel and relevant officials while adhering to the contacts policy,” she stated.
She also assured the committee that she would not weaponize the Justice Department against Trump’s political opponents, despite concerns raised by Kash Patel, Trump’s FBI director nominee, who has been criticized for creating a so-called enemies list targeting the "deep state." "There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice," Bondi asserted, while expressing her support for Patel.
When questioned about her previous comments on "prosecuting the prosecutors"—perceived as targeting those who indicted Trump—Bondi shifted focus, criticizing a prosecutor involved in the Russia investigation for altering a warrant application.
Bondi, facing Democratic scrutiny, notably avoided directly stating Trump lost the 2020 election, instead affirming that Joe Biden is the president and she accepts the results. This response, typical for those seeking to stay in Trump’s favor, was expected to secure his support for her nomination. However, her past actions suggest she shares Trump’s belief in the false claims of election fraud, demonstrated by her defense of him during his first impeachment trial.
Her loyalty to Trump has caused concern within the Justice Department, known for its independence, and which still recalls the tumultuous tenure of Trump’s first term when he ousted officials who resisted his demands. Trump's dismissals of Jeff Sessions and later William Barr highlight the department's fears.
Democrats also questioned Bondi on potential conflicts of interest from her work with Ballard Partners, a major corporate lobbying firm. Bondi has lobbied for corporations, including government contractors like Geo Group, and companies engaged in antitrust and fraud disputes with the Justice Department. Bondi committed to consulting ethics officials for any conflicts but stopped short of promising recusal.
Bondi, a University of Florida graduate and former county prosecutor, served as Florida’s attorney general after winning the 2010 election, partly due to her frequent Fox News appearances. During her tenure, her office received complaints about Trump University, but Bondi opted not to join a multi-state lawsuit against it after receiving a $25,000 donation from a Trump-funded non-profit. Both Bondi and Trump denied any quid pro quo, though Trump later paid a fine for the donation's tax law violation.
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