Bondi Endures U.S. Attorney General Confirmation Hearing

Former Florida State Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) appeared in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing to be the next U.S. Attorney General. Bondi was asked about the 2020 election, the potential pardoning of January 6th protestors, and whether she would be more loyal to the Constitution or President-elect Donald Trump (R).

During the hearing, multiple Democrats reiterated the question of whether President-elect Trump lost the 2020 election. Bondi repeatedly answered by saying that President Joe Biden (D) is currently the Commander-in-Chief, he was "duly sworn in" and that there was a "peaceful transfer of power" in the Oval Office.

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) followed up with Bondi by asking if she had "any doubts" that Biden had the majority of electoral votes to win in 2020.

Her response:

"You know, Senator, all I can tell you, as a prosecutor, is from my firsthand experience, and I accept the results. I accept, of course, that Joe Biden is the President of the United States. But what I can tell you is what I saw firsthand when I went to Pennsylvania as an advocate for the campaign. I was an advocate for the campaign, and I was on the ground in Pennsylvania, and I saw many things there. But do I accept the results? Of course, I do. Do I agree with what happened, and I saw so much. No one from either side of the aisle should want there to be any issues with election integrity in our country. We should all want our elections to be free and fair and the rules and the laws to be followed."

Durbin rebutted by saying she should've only answered yes or no, and that the length of her response is a sign that she "wasn't prepared to answer yes."

Additionally, Durbin asked if Bondi is prepared to pardon those who've been prosecuted for "violent assaults on police officers" during the events of January 6th, 2021.

Her response:

"Senator, if confirmed as Attorney General of the United States, the pardons, of course, fall under the President. But if asked to look at those cases, I will look at each case and advise on a case-by-case basis, just as I did my entire career as a prosecutor."

Moreover, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) asked Bondi if she would follow an order from President Trump even if it was deemed "unethical or illegal," and questioned her motives when giving responses in order to be confirmed by the committee.

Bondi responded:

"Senator, first, I need to clarify something that you said, that I have to sit up here and say these things. No, I don't. I sit up here and speak the truth. I'm not going to sit up here and say anything that I need to say to get confirmed by this body, I don't have to say anything. I will answer the questions to the best of my ability, and honestly."

Bondi served as the State Attorney General of Florida during former Governor Rick Scott's (R-FL) tenure (2011-2019).