WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, Pam Bondi, the nominee for attorney general under President Donald Trump, made a promise to the Senate Judiciary Committee that she would not use the U.S. Justice Department to target individuals based on their political beliefs. This statement was made in an effort to alleviate concerns that the president-elect will use law enforcement as a tool to go after his opponents.
“I want to make it clear that there will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice,” Bondi stated confidently. “I will not allow politics to influence my decisions and I will not target individuals simply because of their political affiliation.”
Bondi, who previously served as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019, gained attention for her role in defending Trump during his 2019 impeachment trial, which ultimately ended in his acquittal. However, Bondi has also been critical of past investigations and prosecutions of Trump by the Justice Department, suggesting that they were driven by partisan motives.
During the Biden administration, the Justice Department brought two criminal cases against Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and retain classified documents. Both cases have since been dropped. This has led to concerns that Trump may use the justice system as a means of revenge against his political adversaries once he returns to power.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat, expressed these concerns to Bondi during the hearing, stating, “The concern is that the Justice Department may become weaponized under your leadership. We want to ensure that you remain independent in your role.”
As the Republican-majority Senate evaluates a wave of cabinet picks, some of which are controversial, Bondi’s confirmation hearing has drawn attention. On Tuesday, the hearing for Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, was fiery, and on Thursday, the committee will hear from his choice for treasury secretary, Scott Bessent.
Bondi assured the committee that she would evaluate any potential pardons for those accused of participating in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol on a “case-by-case” basis if asked. Trump has previously stated that he plans to pardon some of the approximately 1,600 people who have been charged in connection with the riot, but has hinted that those who were violent may not receive clemency.
If confirmed, Bondi pledged to prioritize prosecuting violent crime, gangs, child sex abusers, and drug traffickers. She also emphasized the importance of protecting the country from “terrorists and other foreign threats” and addressing “the overwhelming crisis at the border.”
In addition, Bondi stated that she would focus on protecting free speech, religious freedom, and “the right to bear arms.” She also expressed her commitment to fixing the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which she believes has suffered from “years of mismanagement, lack of funding, and low morale.”
Senator Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the committee, praised Bondi’s experience and stated, “The Justice Department has been infected with political decision-making, and its leaders have refused to acknowledge this reality. If confirmed, it will be your responsibility to hold those accountable for their actions and ensure that this never happens again.”
However, Bondi’s past actions have raised some concerns about her potential conflicts of interest. In 2013, while serving as Florida’s attorney general, Bondi declined to join other states in investigating Trump University, shortly after a political action committee supporting her campaign received a $25,000 donation from the Trump Foundation. Trump University, a for-profit venture, closed in 2018 after facing lawsuits from former students who claimed they were lured by false promises. Bondi has denied any connection between the donation and her decision not to investigate.
Following Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election, Bondi appeared at press conferences and on television shows where she echoed some of Trump’s false claims about election fraud. She has also worked as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners since 2019.
This has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, as federal ethics rules generally require government employees to recuse themselves from participating in matters that could have a direct financial impact on them. Bondi’s current or former lobbying clients include the Dominican Republic, Qatar, Zimbabwe’s foreign affairs minister, and Kosovo, as well as several companies such as Amazon, Fidelity, Carnival, Uber, Major League Baseball, General Motors, The GEO Group, Alden Torch Financial, and the Major County Sheriffs of America.
