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.
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker asked Bondi about the abortion pill mifepristone, which despite FDA approval, has faced numerous legal challenges that have threatened access to the medication.
Bondi said she has "always been pro-life" but would "not let my personal beliefs affect how I carry out the law."
Bondi signaled her willingness to continue the DOJ's historic antitrust cases against Apple, Ticketmaster and Google, telling Sen. Amy Klobuchar that she is committed to protecting consumers.
"Senator, I haven't looked at those on a case-by-case basis, but I'm committed to that type of case and protecting consumers," Bondi said.
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.
