U.S. attorney general nominee Pam Bondi clashed with senior Democratic senators on Wednesday during her confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Bondi was forced to defend Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the FBI, after being questioned by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) over past comments.
Among other remarks, he mentioned Mr. Patel’s proposal to shut down FBI headquarters and blackmail an “enemy list.”
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President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee Pam Bondi and Sen. Richard Blumenthal clashed during their confirmation hearings. (Getty Images)
“Is that person really the right person to be FBI director? Are those comments inappropriate? Shouldn’t they be disavowed and asked to be retracted?” Blumenthal was struck with a hammer.
Mr. Bondi responded, “Senator, I am not familiar with all of those comments. I have not discussed them with Mr. Patel.”
“What I know is that Mr. Patel…” she began before Blumenthal tried to cut her off.
Bondi said, “I’m sorry. What I do know is that Mr. Patel was a career prosecutor. He was a career public defender, protecting people. And he also had great experience in the intelligence community.” ” and moved forward.
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President-elect Donald Trump is asking the Senate to confirm his nominee. (Donald Trump 2024 Campaign)
“What I can sit here and say is, Mr. Patel, if he cooperates with the administration of the FBI and is confirmed, and if I am confirmed, he will follow the law. “If the attorney general of the United States is an American citizen, I don’t think he would do anything else,” Bondi said.
Blumenthal responded, “Well, the response I wanted to hear from you is that those comments are inappropriate, and that when he comes before this committee, I ask that he disavow or retract them. It is certainly appalling to fair enforcement and the rule of law.”
This came after Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (DR.I) similarly pressed Mr. Bondy on what Democrats called Mr. Patel’s “enemies list”.
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They are referring to a list of 60 people featured in Mr. Patel’s book, “Government Gangsters: The Deep State, Truth, and the Fight for Democracy,” which Mr. Patel refers to as the “deep state.” It is assumed that it is part of.
Mr. Bondi also defended Mr. Patel during the White House interrogation, but was adamant that there was never an “enemies list” at the Justice Department.
