Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has been nominated to lead President-elect Donald Trump’s Justice Department, engaged in a heated exchange with Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) during her confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
During the questioning, Schiff sought a commitment from Bondi to oppose certain pardons that Trump has indicated he wishes to grant, particularly concerning individuals convicted of low-level offenses related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
“Will you advise the President: ‘No, Mr. President. I need to evaluate these on a case-by-case basis. Please refrain from issuing blanket pardons’?” Schiff inquired.
Bondi responded, “Senator, I have not reviewed any of those files. If confirmed, I will examine the files pertaining to the pardons as well as the ongoing investigation.”
Schiff continued to press, questioning Bondi’s capacity to manage the workload. “Will you be able to assess hundreds of cases from day one?” he asked.
“I will review every file I am instructed to examine,” she asserted, prompting Schiff to suggest that she might not have sufficient time, which provoked Bondi to reference Schiff’s past censure by Congress shortly after Republicans regained control following the 2022 elections.
“You were censured by Congress, Senator, for comments like these that are so irresponsible!” Bondi retorted as Schiff attempted to speak over her.
The tension intensified further when Schiff shifted his focus to an ongoing investigation involving former Wyoming Republican and January 6 Committee co-chair Liz Cheney.
A subcommittee led by the GOP has alleged that Cheney engaged in secret communications with witness Cassidy Hutchinson via encrypted applications, bypassing Hutchinson’s legal counsel. The committee has urged the FBI to investigate potential legal infractions. Cheney has refuted these claims, labeling them as unfounded and politically driven to protect Donald Trump. The FBI has not yet indicated whether it will pursue the subcommittee’s suggestions.
During a recent inquiry, Schiff posed the question, “I’m asking you, sitting here today, whether you are aware of a factual predicate to investigate Liz Cheney.” In response, Bondi shifted the focus to California’s crime statistics, stating, “Senator, no one has asked me to investigate Liz Cheney. That is a hypothetical. The crime rate in California right now is through the roof. Your robberies are 87% higher than the national average. That’s what I want to be focused on, Senator, if I’m confirmed as Attorney General.”
If her previous statements are indicative, Bondi may play a pivotal role in the anticipated public disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein’s client list. In a recent Fox News interview, she expressed her views on the Department of Justice’s management of the Epstein client list, advocating for its public release.
Additionally, in September, Trump indicated that he would have “no problem” with releasing more official documents related to Epstein, including the late sex offender’s “client list.”
Epstein’s clientele included individuals in such influential positions that their identities could potentially disrupt the political landscape significantly. In 2019, while awaiting trial for sex trafficking, Epstein died under contentious circumstances in his prison cell.
