Pam Bondi, President-elect Trump’s nominee to guide the Division of Justice, was once concerned with a pointy conflict with Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., on Wednesday because the California senator quizzed Bondi over whether or not she would prosecute Trump’s political combatants.
Schiff, a vocal critic of the president-elect, requested Bondi about whether or not she would examine former Particular Suggest Jack Smith and likewise former Rep. Liz Cheney.
“I am asking you sitting right here lately whether or not you’re acutely aware of a factual predicate to research Liz Cheney,” he mentioned.
‘MASTERCLASS’: BONDI FLIPS SCRIPT ON DEM SENATOR AFTER SUGGESTING SHE WILL WEAPONIZE DOJ
Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s selection to guide the Justice Division as lawyer common, seems earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee for her affirmation listening to on the Capitol on Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Picture/Ben Curtis)
“Senator, nobody requested me to research Liz Cheney, that could be a hypothetical,” she mentioned.
She then became the tables on Schiff, noting the crime charge in California.
“You understand what we will have to be anxious about? The crime charge in California is in the course of the roof. Your robberies are 87% upper than the nationwide reasonable,” she mentioned. “That is what I wish to center of attention on, senator.”
Schiff said that Bondi’s solutions instructed she doesn’t have the independence to mention “no” to the president. He then requested her if she would inform Trump he misplaced the 2020 election. Bondi accused Schiff of “enjoying politics” and of leaking Rep. Devin Nunes’ memo.
“What I will let you know is I can by no means play politics, you are seeking to interact me in a gotcha,” she mentioned.
Then-Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks to newshounds as he departs the general assembly of the Area Make a choice Committee to Examine the January 6 Assault at the U.S. Capitol within the Canon Area Place of business Development in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 19, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Photographs)
Schiff shot again, asking her if she would advise towards blanket pardons by means of President-elect Trump and suggesting she would now not have the ability to have a look at each report on day one.
“You are able to evaluation masses of circumstances on day one. … After all you will not,” Schiff mentioned.
Bondi was once livid at Schiff’s feedback.
“I’m now not going to misinform this frame otherwise you, you have been censured by means of Congress, senator, for feedback identical to this which can be so reckless,” she mentioned.
Schiff was censured in 2023 for selling claims that Trump’s 2016 presidential marketing campaign colluded with Russia, a vote that made Schiff simply the 3rd member of the Area to be censured for the reason that flip of the century.
The incident was once one among quite a lot of sharp exchanges that the previous Florida AG had with Democrat lawmakers. She was once requested by means of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., concerning the weaponization of the DOJ.
“It might now not be suitable for a prosecutor to begin with a reputation and search for a criminal offense?” Whitehouse mentioned all over his line of wondering. “It is a prosecutor’s activity to begin with a criminal offense and search for a reputation. Proper?”
Bondi responded by means of highlighting the government’s investigations into Trump.
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“Senator, I believe that’s the complete downside with the weaponization that we have got noticed the ultimate 4 years and what is been taking place to Donald Trump,” Bondi mentioned.
