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

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.

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.

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.'"

Durbin asked Bondi if she thinks those convicted of violent assaults on police officers on Jan. 6 should be pardoned.

Bondi said that while pardons fall under the purview of the president, "if asked to look at those cases, I will look at each case and advise on a case by case basis."

She continued to dodge questions about her thoughts on those convictions but said, "I condemn any violence against any law enforcement member in this country."