Senate confirms Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general
Members of the Senate voted late Tuesday to confirm Pam Bondi as the attorney general nominee of President Donald Trump, with a vote of 54-46 to install the longtime prosecutor and former Florida attorney general to head up the U.S. Department of Justice. Bondi’s confirmation comes at a time when both the Justice Department and FBI have been under scrutiny by Democrats in Congress, who have raised concerns over Trump’s recent decisions regarding pardons and removals within the agencies.
Despite the concerns raised by Democrats, there are currently no known plans to conduct sweeping removals or take punitive action against the agents involved in the investigations related to the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021. However, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove’s recent directive to the acting FBI director to identify all current and former bureau employees assigned to the Jan. 6 cases for internal review has sparked fresh concerns among FBI agents.
In response to Bove’s directive, FBI agents have filed two separate lawsuits seeking emergency injunctive relief in federal court, arguing that any effort by the DOJ or FBI to review or discriminate against agents involved in the Jan. 6 probe would be unlawful and retaliatory. Bondi has reassured the Senate Judiciary Committee that she will not use her position to advance any political agenda, emphasizing the need to remove politics from the justice system.
Bondi’s nomination received praise from both Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate for her composure and ability to navigate politically sensitive topics during her confirmation hearing. More than 110 former senior Justice Department officials and dozens of Democrat and Republican state attorneys general have endorsed her nomination, citing her experience and track record as a consensus-builder.
Former colleagues of Bondi in Florida expect her to bring her successful playbook from Florida to Washington, focusing on cracking down on drug trafficking, illicit fentanyl use, and combating drug cartels. Democrat Dave Aronberg, who challenged Bondi in her bid for Florida attorney general, praised her for standing up to political pressure and doing what she believed was right, regardless of political consequences.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley commended Bondi’s prosecutorial experience and her dedication to public service, highlighting her achievements as the first female attorney general in Florida. Grassley noted Bondi’s successful initiatives in fighting against pill mills, eliminating backlogs of rape test kits, and upholding law and order during her tenure as state attorney general.
Bondi’s confirmation as attorney general is seen as a positive step towards refocusing the Department of Justice on policy rather than politics, with hopes that she will continue to prioritize the rule of law and public safety in her new role.
