The Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as the next U.S. Attorney General on Wednesday, handing her control of a Justice Department already facing major political turmoil. The vote was 54-46, with Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) breaking ranks to support her alongside all Senate Republicans.
Bondi, a two-term Florida attorney general, has been praised for her prosecutorial experience and her efforts to combat the opioid crisis. However, her close ties to former President Donald Trump and her past involvement in his 2020 election challenges have raised concerns among Democrats about the independence of the Justice Department under her leadership.
A Controversial Confirmation
During her confirmation hearings, Bondi sought to reassure lawmakers that she would restore “confidence and integrity” to the Justice Department, vowing to end what she described as “partisan weaponization” of the agency.
But many Democrats remained skeptical. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) warned that Bondi’s confirmation could signal a Justice Department more loyal to Trump than to the rule of law.
“President Trump has said time and again that he expects the Justice Department to seek ‘retribution’ on his behalf. With Ms. Bondi, I’m afraid, the President has finally found someone who passes his loyalty test,” Durbin said on the Senate floor.
Bondi largely sidestepped questions about how she would handle potential investigations into Trump, including whether she would appoint a special counsel if allegations arose against him. She also refused to say if she would investigate Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led Trump’s prosecution in multiple cases before being dismissed from his role last week.
Her response to questions about the 2020 election also drew criticism. Rather than acknowledging Trump’s loss, she stated only that Biden had been “duly sworn in” and that there was a “peaceful transition of power.”
A Justice Department in Flux
Bondi takes charge of the Justice Department at a moment of upheaval. In recent weeks, numerous career officials have been dismissed or reassigned, including a dozen prosecutors from Smith’s team, FBI agents involved in Trump-related investigations, and attorneys who handled cases against Jan. 6 rioters.
Additionally, newly appointed Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove—who previously served as Trump’s criminal defense attorney—has demanded the FBI turn over information about its handling of the Jan. 6 prosecutions.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a key Republican supporter of Bondi, dismissed Democratic concerns, arguing that her qualifications were not in question. “If my colleagues will not cross the aisle to vote for this qualified nominee, they’ll show that Senate Democrats are intent on opposing President Trump’s Cabinet picks for purely partisan reasons,” he said.
Uncertainty Over Future DOJ Leadership
Bondi’s confirmation also comes as the Senate continues to debate Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel. Patel, a former Trump national security official, has drawn scrutiny over his past claims about the FBI’s role in investigating Trump and the 2020 election.
When asked how she would respond to potential abuses of power under Patel’s leadership, Bondi remained firm: “If he is confirmed, and if I am confirmed — he will follow the law if I am the attorney general of the United States of America. And I don’t believe he would do anything otherwise.”
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