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Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, has vowed to lead a Justice Department free from political influence and mismanagement if confirmed. He is using Wednesday’s confirmation hearing to allay concerns that he will use the role to go after Trump’s attorney general. Called the “enemy” and weaponized the Department of Justice.
Mr. Bondi has been doing the same in private for weeks, meeting with nearly every member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. It’s a bipartisan charm offensive aimed at avoiding surprises and ensuring an easy path to approval.
As of Wednesday, the cautious strategy appears to be paying off, with even Democrats on the committee praising the former Florida AG, given their earlier closed-door one-on-one meetings.
President Trump’s AG picks have a “history of consensus building”
Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Justice Department attorney general, will be sworn in by the Senate Judiciary Committee. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
“I had a good meeting with her,” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, told Politico after the hearing Wednesday.
At the beginning of Wednesday’s confirmation ceremony, Bondi emphasized to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee her early dream of becoming a prosecutor, a dream she said came true almost immediately after starting law school. said.
“From the moment I interned at the State Attorney’s Office in Tampa, Florida, all I wanted to do was be a prosecutor,” said Bondi, who went to jury trials four times during law school. pointed out. “I lost most of it,” she laughed, but still “I didn’t want to do anything else.”
“If confirmed,” Bondi continued, her tone growing serious, “I will fight every day to restore trust and integrity to the Department of Justice and its departments.”
He also vowed to build on existing relationships with his Senate office and work closely with the Judiciary Committee ahead of Wednesday’s hearing.
Trump’s Democratic critics spent little time at the hearing, raising concerns about Bondi’s confirmation and her ability to steer the Justice Department in the face of a president-elect who appears deliberate and sometimes impulsive. described in detail. Many of them directly confronted her with the names of her would-be predecessors who had tried and failed to do the same thing.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) speaks with former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) outside the Senate Judiciary Committee markup on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. Speaks with reporters about his nomination as Secretary. (Tom) Williams/CQ Roll Call)
They questioned her willingness to go after political “enemies” and asked her to give credence to certain statements made by President Trump’s FBI nominee, Kash Patel.
But Bondi remained calm and appeared largely unfazed during Wednesday’s hearing, which lasted more than five hours, not including a 30-minute lunch break.
She highlighted her track record fighting violent crime, drug trafficking and human trafficking as Florida’s top prosecutor and outlined a broader vision for leading the Justice Department, creating a Justice Department free from political influence. He emphasized his desire to lead.
Mr. Bondi’s former colleagues told Fox News Digital that they expect him to bring the same strategy he used in Florida to Washington. This time, the purpose is to crack down on drug trafficking, illegal use of fentanyl, and drug smuggling cartels. Beyond the border.
However, it remains to be seen whether this approach will be successful.
‘Unlikely coalition’: Criminal justice reform advocates see opportunity in Trump’s second term
Pam Bondi shakes hands as her confirmation hearing resumes. (Brianne Depiche/Fox News Digital) (Fox News Digital)
Sunshine State Recommendations
Those who have worked with Bondi over her decades-long career as a prosecutor have described her as an experienced and motivated prosecutor, both in a series of interviews and in a letter previewed exclusively to FOX News Digital. His track record proves that he contributed to building consensus rather than acting as a bridge builder. .
Dave Aronberg, a Democrat who ran to challenge Bondi for Florida attorney general, said in an interview on Fox News Digital that Bondi called him after she won the race and told him about her drug czar. He said he was stunned when he was asked to become one. A coordinated effort to combat the state’s opioid crisis is some of the agency’s most important and enduring work.
He credited her in an interview as “the person most instrumental in ridding Florida of destructive pill mills” and credited her with pushing for statewide legislation and coordinating with the federal government. She cited her work in implementing Florida’s “Statewide Prescription Drug Diversion and Abuse Roadmap.” state and local efforts to combat the opioid crisis, and other activities;
At the time, the Sunshine State was the epicenter of the nation’s opioid crisis, with a slew of “pill mills” and cash-only clinics and a lack of a statewide prescription law that allowed nearly unrestricted access to addictive drugs.
When Bondi took office, about seven people were dying every day from opioids, Aronberg said in an interview. He also said that at the time, Florida had “more pain clinics than McDonald’s stores,” which speaks to the seriousness of the problem. If confirmed by the U.S. attorney general, Bondi said he would continue to focus on cracking down on illegal drugs on a national scale.
Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Department of Justice, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing, January 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Other parts of her record in Florida were also highlighted Wednesday, including consumer protection victories and economic relief secured by then-Florida Attorney General Bondi on behalf of residents of the Sunshine State.
Her work leading the national mortgage settlement after the 2008 financial crisis resulted in $56 billion in compensation for victims, and Bondi’s work leading the way for BP and other responsible companies in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The lawsuit resulted in a $2 billion settlement in economic relief. .
These issues are likely to take center stage at Thursday’s hearing, the second day of Bondi’s two-day confirmation, and will focus on testimony from others who have worked with her over the years. It will be done.
national praise
In the weeks leading up to Bondi’s hearing, dozens of former state attorneys general and more than 100 former Justice Department officials told the Senate Judiciary Committee about their experience in Bondi’s role and commitment to the rule of law. He praised Mr. Bondi and asked him to recognize him.
The letter from former Justice Department officials was signed by former Attorney General John Ashcroft, Jeff Sessions, Bill Barr and Edwin Meese, as well as senior government officials who served in Democratic and Republican administrations. He stated the following: The employees of the Department of Justice, especially the Attorney General, have so much experience in the daily work of keeping our communities safe. ”
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The letter also praised Bondi’s “national reputation” for her efforts in helping authorities combat human trafficking and prosecute violent crimes in the state.
Mr. Bondi recently received the support of 60 former state attorneys general. The delegation, which also included Democratic and Republican attorneys general, emphasized that Bondi’s extensive prosecutorial experience, including her role as Florida’s top prosecutor, makes her particularly qualified for the job.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will reconvene at 10:15 a.m. Thursday to hear from a panel of outside witnesses regarding Bondi’s qualifications to serve as attorney general.
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