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Bondi hearing live updates: Democrats frustrated by Bondi on 2020 election answers

Pam Bondi is getting grilled before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

ByIvan Pereira, Alexander Mallin, Peter Charalambous, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: January 15, 2025, 1:54 PM EST

President-elect Donald Trump's choice to head the Justice Department -- former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi -- faces questions before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

Democrats want to ask her about her vow to "prosecute the prosecutors -- the bad ones" -- referring to special counsel Jack Smith and other DOJ lawyers who investigated Trump.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing:
3 hours and 46 minutes ago

Bondi responds to her claim that some DOJ prosecutors will be prosecuted

Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse questioned Bondi about her past statement that prosecutors who investigated Trump should be prosecuted for what she claimed was wrongdoing.

Bondi reiterated her claims that Trump was unfairly targeted by the Justice Department for years and it was her duty to hold everyone to standards of the law.

"None of us are above the law," she said.

When asked about prosecuting journalists, Bondi said, "I believe in the freedom of speech. Only if anyone commits a crime."

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on her nomination to be US Attorney General, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Jan. 15, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

3 hours and 51 minutes ago

Bondi defends Kash Patel, says she doesn't believe he has 'enemies list'

Bondi was questioned about Trump's FBI director pick Kash Patel, who has spoken about using that role to "root out" Trump's political enemies.

Patel has referred to these targets as "Deep Staters," citing what critics call conspiracy theories about alleged sinister elite groups controlling the country.

Bondi said she has never had an "enemies list," and said she does not believe Patel has one.

"I don't believe he has an enemies list. He made a quote on TV, which I have not heard," Bondi said.

"There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice," she added.

Bondi said she believes Patel is "the right person at this time" for the role.

10:39 AM EST

Graham brings up Laken Riley case

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham turned to immigration in his question and brought up the Laken Riley murder to ask Bondi if she would push for more detention beds for detained immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

"We let this dude go because we didn't have enough beds to hold them," Graham said of Jose Ibarra, convicted in the 2024 killing.

Bondi said she would look into it.

Sen. Lindsey Graham questions Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department as attorney general during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 15, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

10:35 AM EST

Bondi sidesteps when asked if Trump lost 2020 election

Bondi, who boosted Trump's false claims of 2020 election fraud, sidestepped in her answer to Durbin's question on whether Trump lost the 2020 election.

"I accept, of course, that Joe Biden is president of the United States. But what I can tell you is what I saw firsthand when I went to Pennsylvania as an advocate for the campaign," Bondi said.

Bondi said she "saw many things there," but did not specify what she referred to as "issues with election integrity in our country."

"I think that question deserved a yes or no," Durbin replied, "And I think the length of your answer is an indication that you weren't prepared to answer 'yes.'"

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