U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee during an oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Reuters
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed with Senate Democrats during a tense hearing in Washington on Tuesday, defending her leadership and the Justice Department’s actions under President Donald Trump.
It was Bondi’s first appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee since her confirmation earlier this year. The hearing turned contentious as Democrats accused her of politicizing the Justice Department to serve Trump’s interests and target his rivals.
Bondi rejected those claims, insisting the department was “returning to its core mission of fighting real crime.” She praised local law enforcement agencies for supporting Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and Memphis.
Democrats Accuse Bondi of Politicization
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois opened the session by sharply criticizing Bondi. He accused her of firing long-serving prosecutors and scaling back anti-corruption and white-collar crime investigations to please the president.
“In eight short months, you’ve fundamentally transformed the Justice Department and left an enormous stain on American history,” Durbin said. “It will take decades to recover.”
Bondi, however, stayed firm, denying any wrongdoing. She said the department’s focus was on public safety, not politics.
Questions Over Comey and Trump’s Influence
Several Democrats pressed Bondi about reports suggesting Trump personally urged her to investigate political opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey.
Bondi refused to confirm whether she discussed Comey’s case with the president, saying only, “I don’t think he’s said anything he hasn’t said for years.”
Comey is expected to appear in court this week to face charges of obstruction and making false statements — a case critics say is politically motivated.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar questioned Bondi about a September 20 post in which Trump publicly called for investigations into three of his critics. Bondi brushed off the question, saying she saw nothing new in Trump’s remarks.
Exchanges Grow Personal and Heated
The questioning took a sharp turn when Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse asked about former immigration chief Tom Homan, who was accused of accepting $50,000 in cash during a sting operation. Bondi sidestepped the question and instead made remarks about Whitehouse’s wife and political donors.
Whitehouse dismissed the comments as “far-right internet talking points.”
At another point, Bondi accused Democrats of fueling the ongoing government shutdown and of refusing to cooperate on crime initiatives. “I wish you loved Chicago as much as you hate President Trump,” she told Durbin.
Foreign Policy and Security Questions
Bondi also faced questions from Delaware Senator Chris Coons about deadly U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela. Coons asked what legal authority the Justice Department used to justify the actions. Bondi declined to answer directly, calling Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro a “narco terrorist” responsible for countless American deaths through drug trafficking.
Republicans Defend Bondi
Republicans on the committee turned their anger toward the FBI, citing reports that agents reviewed phone records of several Republican lawmakers as part of a special counsel investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Senator Josh Hawley said he was outraged that his own calls were included. “We learned that the FBI tapped my phone!” he said.
Bondi called the investigation a “historic betrayal of public trust” and said it “shatters Americans’ faith in law enforcement.”
