Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has expressed some serious concerns about Pam Bondi, the President-elect’s pick for Attorney General. After meeting with Bondi, Durbin took to social media, saying he remains worried about her ability to put the Constitution above her loyalty to Donald Trump. He shared, “Given her responses to my questions, I remain concerned about her ability to serve as Attorney General.”
Bondi, who has been a strong supporter of Trump, is making her way through Congress in an effort to secure the necessary backing ahead of her confirmation hearing on January 15 and 16.
Who is Pam Bondi? Pam Bondi served as Florida’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2019 and was Trump’s personal lawyer during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Trump nominated her for Attorney General after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) stepped down due to ethics issues. But Durbin and others have raised concerns over Bondi’s past actions.
In a statement, Durbin criticized Bondi for her role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election and her stance on issues like reproductive rights, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. Durbin’s comments have sparked a lot of attention as the confirmation hearing draws closer.
What’s Next? Durbin is eager to hear more about Bondi’s vision for the Department of Justice and how she plans to protect Americans’ rights while remaining independent and faithful to the Constitution. He emphasized that the American people deserve an Attorney General who will prioritize their rights and uphold the rule of law.
On the other hand, Trump praised Bondi’s nomination, claiming that she would “refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime and making America safe again,” after what he described as years of partisan politics in the Department of Justice.
Support and Opposition Despite the concerns raised, Bondi has also received some support. A bipartisan group of 110 former Justice Department officials, who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, sent a letter recommending her confirmation. They praised her experience and commitment to the rule of law, noting her qualifications as Florida’s former Attorney General.
With the confirmation hearings just around the corner, it remains to be seen how the Senate will respond to her nomination. Stay tuned for more updates as the hearings unfold!
