Attorney General Candidate Questioned About Loyalty to Trump

Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, Pam Bondi, said during her confirmation hearing Wednesday that she would not use the U.S. Department of Justice to target people based on their politics.

“There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice,” she told senators as they repeatedly pressed her on her loyalty to Trump. “I will not politicize that office.”

But Bondi, who would become the country’s top law enforcement official if confirmed to the position by a Senate vote, did not outright rule out launching investigations into those with whom the president-elect has clashed.

“It would be irresponsible for me to compromise on anything,” he said when asked whether he would investigate Jack Smith, who led two criminal cases against Trump.

Trump repeatedly threatened to investigate and potentially prosecute his political enemies during the election campaign.

Bondi, who will likely be confirmed as the 87th attorney general of the United States given the Republican majority in the chamber, stressed throughout the hearing that she would remain independent.

But he echoed Trump’s view that the federal prosecutions against him were political persecution, saying the department “had been used as a weapon for years and years and years.”

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican, said the department had become “infected with political decision-making” and said it has been “weaponized” under the Biden administration, particularly against Trump.

These descriptions were echoed 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.

“The concern is that the Justice Department will become a weapon during his tenure,” Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse told Bondi. “We want to make sure that’s not the case, that they remain independent.”

They also focused part of their questioning on FBI director candidate Kash Patel, who, if confirmed, would report to Bondi.

The FBI nominee has said he has an “enemies list” of people he will go after if confirmed. Several senators asked Bondi about those comments, but she said she had not heard them and that the Justice Department would not have such a list.

Bondi also told the committee that he would look at possible pardons for the Capitol rioters “on a case-by-case basis,” but added that he condemned “any violence against a law enforcement officer in this country.”

The attorney general serves as head of the Department of Justice, which enforces federal laws. If confirmed to the position, Bondi would provide legal advice and opinions to the president and heads of executive departments.

His confirmation vote is not yet scheduled, but is expected 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 course to avoid becoming more dependent on China and promised to reform American foreign policy to focus on American interests.