 "Pam Bondi does a Kash Patel: The questioning and her no answers")
Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed fiercely with Democrats during her appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 7, sparking heated exchanges and personal attacks as lawmakers accused her of stonewalling questions.
Republicans, however, rallied behind her, praising Bondi for fulfilling her and President Donald Trump’s promises to “end political bias” in the Justice Department, reduce crime, and tighten immigration enforcement.
‘Taking a sledgehammer’: A politically charged hearing
The highly anticipated oversight hearing, Bondi’s first since taking office, came at a politically charged moment.
Just two weeks earlier, her department had indicted former FBI Director James Comey — a move that angered Democrats — and a day before the hearing, a group of former Justice Department officials accused her in a public letter of “taking a sledgehammer” to the department’s integrity and independence.
“I took office with two main goals: to end the weaponisation of justice and return the department to its core mission of fighting violent crime,” Bondi said.
“While there is more work to do, I believe in eight short months, we have made tremendous progress towards those ends.”
‘A shield for the president’: Democrats accuse Bondi of politicising justice
Democrats, however, painted a very different picture. They accused Bondi — once Trump’s personal lawyer and Florida’s attorney general — of dismantling critical divisions, such as the public corruption unit, while protecting the president’s allies and targeting his opponents.
“Our nation’s top law enforcement agency has become a shield for the president and his political allies when they engage in misconduct,” said Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, the panel’s top Democrat.
Sharp exchanges and personal attacks
Bondi, clearly prepared for confrontation, met their criticism with sharp retorts and counter-accusations. She called Representative Adam Schiff “a failed lawyer” and “a liar” when pressed on alleged political interference.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsClash over the Epstein files
Tensions peaked when senators questioned her about the Justice Department’s decision not to release the so-called “Epstein files” — evidence tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel had previously pledged transparency but later announced that the materials would remain sealed.
“There’s been public reporting that Jeffrey Epstein showed people photos of President Trump with half-naked young women,” Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse asked. “Do you know if the FBI found those photographs?”
“You sit here and make salacious remarks, once again, trying to slander President Trump,” Bondi shot back. “You’re the one who was taking money from one of Epstein’s closest confidants, I believe. I could be wrong. Correct me.”
When Durbin pressed her on “who gave the order to flag records related to President Trump,” Bondi refused to answer. “I’m not going to discuss anything about that with you, Senator,” she said. Durbin warned, “Eventually you are going to have to answer for your conduct in this.”
Heated moments with other senators
Bondi also accused Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono of “consorting with antifa protesters” after Hirono questioned her about the reported shutdown of a bribery probe involving Trump’s border czar Tom Homan. “You were also on video outside the White House, protesting where antifa members were,” Bondi said.
When Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal tried to keep the discussion “positive and constructive,” Bondi cut him off sharply: “I’m not going to get in the gutter with you.”
Divided Washington
Her testimony underscored how divided Washington remains over the direction of the Justice Department — and how closely Bondi’s fate is tied to that of President Trump.
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