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Bondi hearing live updates: Bondi suggests Jack Smith's conduct is 'horrible'

Pam Bondi is getting grilled before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

ByIvan Pereira, Alexander Mallin, Peter Charalambous, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: January 15, 2025, 3:12 PM EST

President-elect Donald Trump's choice to head the Justice Department -- former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi -- faced questions for more than five hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

Democrats asked about her vow to "prosecute the prosecutors—the bad ones," referring to special counsel Jack Smith and other DOJ lawyers who investigated Trump. Democrats on the committee also pressed Bondi on Jan. 6, the 2020 presidential election results, and how she would be independent of hypothetical Trump demands.

Republicans on the committee spent a lot of their time criticizing the DOJ under the Biden Administration, alleging it was weaponized to target Trump.

The committee will reconvene to hear from outside witnesses on Thursday.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing:
1:49 PM EST

Durbin questions Bondi about Patel's support of QAnon

During the second round of questioning, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin again brought up Trump FBI director pick Kash Patel's questionable statements and actions, including statements in which he said he agreed with QAnon ideals.

The senator asked Bondi why she unequivocally was supporting Patel. Bondi said she did not know a lot about QAnon but would not speak for Patel.

"You're going to have to ask Mr. Patel about those statements," she said.

"This unequivocal support of Mister Patel should have some reservations," Schiff warned.

1:36 PM EST

Bondi warns of rising crime, attacks Schiff

Bondi and California Sen. Adam Schiff got into a testy exchange and the nominee slammed him for his questioning on her independence and Trump's threats to investigate enemies.

Bondi dodged all of Schiff's questions and slammed him for not focusing on the crime in his state, which she claimed was going to increasing after the wildfires that have burned thousands of acres in the Los Angeles area.

Bondi said she would make crime a top priority and said the election showed Americans wanted a change.

"People want law and order so they can be safe," she said.

1:10 PM EST

Bondi says she'll do 'everything in my power' to stop illegal gun runners

Bringing up concerns about the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker asked Bondi if she was committed to ensuring the agency had adequate resources to pursue illegal gun runners.

"Senator, I will do everything in my power to prevent illegal gunrunners in our country," Bondi replied.

12:56 PM EST

Bondi evades questions about her false claims on 2020 results

California Democrat Sen. Alex Padilla brought up Bondi's work in Trump's legal challenges against the 2020 election results noting that she claimed a day after the election that Trump won Pennsylvania even though votes were still being counted.

Bondi did not provide details about her evidence or retract her false claims.

Things got heated between the senator and Bondi when he asked about the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship.

"I did not take your homework assignment. I was preparing for today," she said when asked about the amendment.

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