Pam Bondi is getting grilled before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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.
Sen. Dick Durbin denounced violence against U.S. Capitol Police officers during the 2021 insurrection, asking Bondi where she stood on the issue.
Bondi did not directly comment on the Jan. 6 rioters, but called the Capitol Police "incredible," saying they "deserve to be safe."
Bondi said she does "not agree with violence against anyone, but especially police officers."
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.
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.
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.
