The Senate Judiciary Committee must ensure that Pam Bondi commits to exercising the immense responsibilities of the United States Attorney General in a nonpartisan manner before voting on her confirmation, according to testimony submitted by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. 

The attorney general has a wide range of responsibilities, including representing the United States in legal matters, ensuring that the president and executive branch comply with the Constitution and leading more than 30 component agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Given the gravity of their role and the power they hold, it is important that the attorney general ensures the independence of their office and does not impede oversight of the agency. 

While a prior relationship with or support for the president is not disqualifying on its own, Bondi’s previous record—which includes serving as President Trump’s personal lawyer during his first impeachment inquiry and pushing unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud following the 2020 election—indicates a heightened loyalty to Trump that raises serious questions about her willingness to faithfully carry out the duties of the office in the face of political pressure from the president.

Incoming President Donald Trump manipulated Department of Justice officials during his first term and has repeatedly stated the importance of loyalty in his second administration and his desire to use the DOJ, including the FBI, to go after his perceived political enemies. Additionally, with the Supreme Court’s sweeping presidential immunity decision last July, it is all the more important that the attorney general be an individual who will wield the office’s broad prosecutorial discretion with respect for due process, the Constitution and the rule of law.

To make sure that Bondi meets the necessary requirements to be the attorney general, CREW encouraged the Senate Judiciary Committee to evaluate her using three criteria: that she will put the Constitution and the rule of law before the interests of the president, adhere to the highest ethical standards and respect the independence of the Department of Justice inspector general. They must ensure that she can carry out the responsibilities of the role in a nonpartisan manner in accordance with the laws of the Constitution and with loyalty to the American people—not to President Trump.

Read the testimony here.

Background photo by U.S. Department of State (IIP Bureau) under Creative Commons license

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