In a remarkable turn during her Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, President-elect Trump’s Attorney General nominee, Pam Bondi, effectively turned the tables on Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse after he implied she would politicize the Department of Justice (DOJ).
During an intense exchange, Whitehouse questioned Bondi about the appropriateness of starting a criminal investigation with a target in mind rather than with evidence of a crime. Bondi responded by highlighting what she perceives as the political targeting of Donald Trump over the last four years, saying, “Senator, I think that is the whole problem with the weaponization that we have seen the last four years and what’s been happening to Donald Trump.”
Bondi used the opportunity to underscore her commitment to fairness and justice, stating, “I will not target people simply because of their political affiliation. Justice will be administered evenhandedly throughout this country. Senator, we’ve got to bring this country back together. We’ve got to move forward, or we’re going to lose our country.”
She further referenced Kevin Clinesmith, a former FBI lawyer who pleaded guilty to altering an email used in the Carter Page FISA application, as an example of misconduct within the DOJ.
Responding to Whitehouse’s concerns about the politicization of the DOJ, Bondi was clear, “Let me give you a really good example of a bad lawyer within the Justice Department, a guy named Clinesmith who altered a FISA warrant. One of the most important things we can do in this country. So will everyone be held to an equal fair system of justice if I am the next attorney general? Absolutely. And no one is above the law.”
Eric Daughtery, Assistant News Director at Florida’s Voice News, commented on the exchange, stating, “Pam Bondi totally flips the script on Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D) who tried to make it seem like she will weaponize the DOJ.”
🚨 JUST IN: Pam Bondi totally flips the script on Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D) who tried to make it seem like she will weaponize the DOJ.
Masterclass.
WHITEHOUSE: The DOJ cannot just start with a name, and then look for a crime. You must start with a crime and look for a… pic.twitter.com/Edzzf5Eibt
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 15, 2025
The hearing showcased Bondi’s readiness to address criticisms head-on and her determination to advocate for an impartial justice system, earning her praise from conservatives who see her as a strong candidate for attorney general. Bondi is anticipated to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, with some speculation that she might even garner votes from Democrats due to her previous bipartisan work.
Here is the full exchange.
Article generated from corporate media reports.
