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Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, faced sharp questioning during her Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, repeatedly refusing to explicitly state that Trump lost the 2020 election.
When asked by Senate Judiciary Committee member Dick Durbin if she believed Trump lost, Bondi evaded a direct answer. “President Biden is the president of the United States, he was duly sworn in, and he is the president,” she replied.
Bondi suggested the 2020 results were fraudulent, saying, “Trump left office, and he was overwhelmingly elected in 2024.”
Durbin pressed further, asking for a clear yes or no, to which Bondi said, “I accept the results. No one should want issues with election integrity.” Durbin responded, “Your lengthy reply suggests you’re not prepared to say yes.”
Senator Mazie Hirono also challenged Bondi, pointing out the difference between acknowledging Biden’s presidency and affirming the 2020 results. “You can’t say who won the 2020 election. That’s disturbing,” Hirono said. Bondi did not respond.
Bondi’s actions after the 2020 election fueled the scrutiny. She joined Rudy Giuliani in Pennsylvania, declaring Trump “won” the state while ballots were still being counted.
On Fox News, she alleged “evidence of cheating” and “fake ballots.” When Senator Alex Padilla asked her for proof of these claims, Bondi avoided answering, accusing him of cutting her off.
During the hearing, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff asked if she would investigate figures like Special Counsel Jack Smith or former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, as Trump has publicly demanded.
Bondi called the scenario “hypothetical” and deflected questions about her independence, stating, “I will never play politics.”
Bondi repeatedly emphasized her commitment to the Constitution and her desire to return the Justice Department to “basic” principles.
She echoed Trump’s claims of federal agencies being weaponized against political opponents, a stance critics argue aligns her closely with the president-elect’s controversial rhetoric.
Senators expressed concerns about her ability to stand up to Trump. Durbin questioned whether she could tell Trump he was wrong. Bondi responded, “I would not have accepted this nomination if I thought I couldn’t act independently.”
She also denied knowledge of Trump’s call to Georgia officials to “find” votes or his characterization of January 6 rioters as “patriots.”
Bondi defended Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI Director, despite his controversial promise to dismantle the FBI and pursue Trump’s perceived enemies. When asked about Patel’s alleged “enemies list,” Bondi praised his experience, calling him “the right person for the job.”
Senator Richard Blumenthal challenged Bondi on key issues, stating, “You must be able to say Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and that January 6 rioters should not be pardoned.”
Bondi countered, “I speak the truth and won’t say anything just to be confirmed. I will follow the law.”
If confirmed, Bondi could lead a Justice Department reshaped under Trump’s influence, with his legal team filling key roles. Deputy Attorney General duties could go to Trump’s defense attorney Todd Blanche, with Emil Bove and Harmeet Dhillon handling other critical divisions.
The hearing underscored deep divisions over Bondi’s nomination, with critics questioning her independence and her alignment with Trump’s controversial agenda. Her potential confirmation could significantly reshape the Department of Justice and its priorities in the coming years.
