Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Win McNamee/Getty Images
Pam Bondi’s first appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee turned out to be every bit as fiery as expected. The attorney general faced sharp questions from both Democrats and Republicans after her Justice Department indicted former FBI Director James Comey just two weeks ago — a move that stirred major political controversy.
Adding fuel to the fire, a day before the hearing, a group of former Justice Department officials accused Bondi of undermining long-standing efforts to uphold the rule of law. So, when she took her seat, everyone knew things would get tense. And they did.
Here are five main takeaways from the hearing:
1. Bondi Comes Out Swinging
Pam Bondi wasted no time going on the offensive. She used her opening remarks — and nearly every question — to hit back at her critics. When pressed about National Guard deployments, she snapped that certain senators “hate Donald Trump more than they love their states.”
She even threw shade during questions about Jeffrey Epstein, pointing out that some Democrats had accepted donations from people tied to the late financier. When Senator Peter Welch noted her “personal attacks,” Bondi didn’t flinch. This aggressive strategy mirrored other Trump-era officials’ tactics during tough hearings — strike first, answer little.
2. Many Questions, Few Answers
When Bondi wasn’t attacking, she was avoiding. She repeatedly refused to discuss “personnel matters” or “ongoing investigations,” including the Comey indictment.
Even when shown a photo of her meeting with Trump right after he called for Comey’s prosecution online, she brushed it off with, “I love that picture.”
Senator Adam Schiff summed up the frustration: “This is supposed to be an oversight hearing to get real answers.”
Bondi’s response? “I think you owe the president an apology for your entire career.”
3. Crime-Fighting Is Her Safe Ground
Bondi tried to steer the discussion toward crime reduction — one of the Trump administration’s favorite talking points. She highlighted drug busts, gun confiscations, and arrests as proof that her Justice Department was “fighting real crime.”
This focus plays well politically. Crime remains a top concern for Americans, and by centering her message there, Bondi likely aimed to appeal beyond the Republican base to independent and moderate voters, too.
4. Democrats Zero In on Epstein
Much of the heat came from Democrats questioning Bondi over her department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. They pressed her on everything — from whether the FBI found compromising photos to whether there’s really a “client list” as Bondi once claimed.
Her answers? Mostly silence. She repeatedly said she wouldn’t discuss those details.
Even some Republicans joined the call for transparency. Senator John Kennedy suggested a former neighbor of Epstein, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, should testify before Congress, calling Epstein “the greatest blackmailer ever.” Bondi sidestepped that too.
5. Republicans Revive Old Grievances
While Democrats grilled Bondi over Trump and Epstein, Republicans turned the spotlight back on the Biden years.
Senator Chuck Grassley complained about blocked investigations into the Biden family. Lindsey Graham slammed the 2016 Russia probe. Ted Cruz revisited protests outside Supreme Court justices’ homes after the 2021 abortion ruling.
By the end, it was clear both sides were more interested in scoring political points than finding common ground. As Senator Alex Padilla put it, “When the public trust breaks down, justice itself is at risk.” Ironically, that’s one sentiment both parties might actually agree on — even if they blame each other for causing it.
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