Attorney General Nominee Pam Bondi Testifies at Confirmation Hearing, Part 1

Source: C-SPAN
Type: congressional-testimony

Source Text

Excerpt only. The source transcript is too long to reproduce here:

NOW TO THE CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR PAM BONDI. DONALD TRUMP’S NOMINEE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL DISCUSSES HER AIM TO RETURN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO ITS VISION OF KEEPING AMERICA SAFE, VIGOROUSLY PROSECUTING CRIMINALS AND CONSUMER SAFETY. THE CONFIRMATION HEARING IS ABOUT FIVE HOURS. SENATE JUDICIARY 2OMMITTEE HERE ON C-SPAN2.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT HEARING THAT CONSIDERS THE NOMINATION OF FORMER FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI. SHE’S SERVING AS THE 87th ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES AFTER HER APPROVAL. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR NOMINATION, MISS BONDI, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. I THANK SENATOR DURBIN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AS CHAIRMAN. COMMITTEE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, ALTHOUGH HE AND I HAVE DIFFERENCES OF POLICIES, I THINK THE PUBLIC COULD SAY WE WORK WELL TOGETHER ON MANY ISSUES OVER THE YEARS. AS HE STEPS INTO HIS ROLE AS RANKING MEMBER I WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH SENATOR DURBIN TO SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME FOUR — THREE BRAND NEW MEMBERS TO THE COMMITTEE AND A PERSON REPEATING HIS SERVICE HERE AS A STINT OFF. I WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE SENATOR BRICK, SENATOR SNITS, SENATOR CRAPO AND SENATOR SCHIFF. WELCOME.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANT TO SET OUT A COUPLE OF GROUND RULES I WANT TO HANDLE THIS HEARING A SIMILAR STRUCTURE HOW SENATOR DURBIN HANDLED THE HEARING OF ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND. I WANT EVERYBODY TO WANT TO WATCH THE HEARING WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION. IF PEOPLE STAND UP AND BLOCK THE VIEW OF THOSE BEHIND THEM OR SPEAK OUT OF TURN, IT’S NOT FAIR OR CONSIDERATE TO OTHERS. SO OFFICERS WILL IMMEDIATELY REMOVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS. NOW BEFORE I TURN TO MY OPENING STATEMENT, LET ME EXPLAIN HOW WE’RE GOING TO PROCEED TODAY. I’LL GIVE MY OPENING REMARKS AND THEN I’LL INVITE RANKING MEMBER DURBIN TO GIVE HIS OPENING REMARKS, THEN I’LL CALL ON SENATOR SCOTT AND SCHMIDT WHO INTRODUCE THIS NOMINEE AND FOLLOWING THOSE INTRODUCTIONS AND MS. BONDI’S STATEMENT WE’LL BEGIN THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONING. EACH SENATOR WILL HAVE AN INITIAL SEVEN MINUTES ROUND FOR QUESTIONS. AFTER THE FIRST ROUND WE’LL DO A SECOND FOUR-MINUTE ROUND OF QUESTIONING. MEMBERS SHOULD DO THEIR VERY BEST TO ADHERE TO THESE TIME LIMITS SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED EFFICIENTLY WITH THE HEARING. WE’RE HERE TODAY TO CONSIDER PAM BONDI’S NOMINATION TO SERVE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES. MS. BONDI, FOR A SECOND TIME, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATION, WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, SERVE THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF SENATE’S ADVISE AND CONSENT PROCESS. YOU’RE NOMINATED TO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OFFICES IN OUR COUNTRY. IT TOOK— IT TOOK, LET’S SEE, A LOT OF WORK ON YOUR PART JUST TO GET HERE TODAY, MORE THAN 14,000 PAGES OF RECORDS, HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF MEDIA FILES AND MORE THAN 3400 RESPONSIVE ENTRIES YOU DISCLOSED TO THIS COMMITTEE ARE A DES TESTAMENT TO YOUR LONG CAREER IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND YOUR COOPERATION WITH THIS COMMITTEE. I’D ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOUR FAMILY FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I KNOW THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE TRAVELED SOME DISTANCE TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU. I’D LIKE TO EXPLAIN AND EXPECT THAT MS. BONDI BE TREATED FAIRLY. DURING ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND’S CONFIRMATION HEARING REPUBLICANS TREATED HIM WITH RESPECT. WE ASK TOUGH, BUT FAIR QUESTIONS AND WE ULTIMATELY VOTED HIM OUT OF COMMITTEE ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS, ALTHOUGH ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND WASN’T WHO WE ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE WOULD HAVE CHOSEN TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WON THAT ELECTION AND THAT HE WAS ENTITLED TO CHOOSE HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL. WE WERE ULTIMATELY DISAPPOINTED WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GENERAL GARLAND AND HIS DEPARTMENT DID, BUT AT THE TIME OF HIS NOMINATION WE GAVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. AS THE RECENT TERRORIST ATTACKS IN NEW ORLEANS AND AROUND THE WORLD HAVE SHOWN, OUR NATIONAL SECURITY MUST BE A HIGH PRIORITY PRIORITY. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE A SECURE HOMELAND AND BORDERS, SAFE STREETS, ORDERLY MARKETS, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND A PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT. SO DELIVERING ON THESE PROMISES REQUIRES A SWIFT CONFIRMATION OF AN ATTORNEY GENERAL. THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD GIVE MS. BONDI THE SAME BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT THAT THIS COMMITTEE GAVE TO ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SELECTED A NOMINEE WHOSE QUALIFICATIONS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. MS. BONDI MADE HISTORY 2N 2010 AS THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE ELECTED FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL. SHE HELD THAT ROLE FOR EIGHT YEARS AND WAS COMFORTABLY REELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA TO A SECOND TERM. EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE THIRD LARGEST STATE IN THE NATION IS EXCELLENT PREPARATION FOR THE ROLE OF U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL. AS FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL, MS. BONDI WAS A MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA CABINET, CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER OF THE STATE, AND LED A LARGE AGENCY THAT TANNING LARGE AGENCY THAT TANGIBLY IMPACTED PEOPLE’S LIVES AND MS. BONDI HANDLED THAT WELL. AS FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL MS. BONDI ACHIEVED NUMEROUS SUCCESSES. SHE ENGAGED IN KEY INITIATIVES TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, COUNTERED THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND PROTECTED CONSUMERS AND PROTECTED THE CITIZENS OF FLORIDA FROM VIOLENCE. SHE DIDN’T SHY AWAY FROM HARD WORK OR COMPLICATED PROBLEMS. SHE ENGAGED IN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGNS TO ELIMINATE PILL MILLS, TOOK A LEADING ROLE IN SECURING THREE AND A QUARTER BILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT FOLLOWING THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL AND ELIMINATED THE BACKLOG OF RAPE TEST KITS THAT ACCUMULATED IN THAT STATE’S LABORATORY. MS. BONDI’S EXPERIENCE ISN’T LIMITED TO HER SERVICE AS FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL. SHE ALSO SERVED AS THE PROSECUTOR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR 18 YEARS AND PROSECUTED TERRIBLE CRIMES. SHE SOUGHT TOUGH PENALTIES AND JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS, DOMESTIC ABUSERS, AND SEXUAL PREDATORS. SHE PROSECUTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND THUS PROTECTED HER COMMUNITY. SHE WAS ALSO ACTING OUTSIDE OF HER PROFESSIONAL ROLE SERVING IN THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF TAMPA ON THE BOARD OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS FLORIDA AND IS WELL-KNOWN FOR HER ANIMAL RESCUE EFFORTS. HER EXPERIENCE AND PERFORMANCE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, PROSECUTOR, COMMUNITY LEADER SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT HER CHARACTER AND HER DEDICATION TO THE RULE OF LAW. SHE’S RECEIVED MULTIPLE LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF HER NOMINATION, INCLUDING FROM THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, THE REPUBLICAN STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL, MORE THAN 100 FORMER SENIOR DOJ OFFICIALS AND A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF FORMER STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL. IN SHORT, MS. BONDI IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND OF COURSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, A CHANGE IS DESPERATELY NEEDED. WHEN CONFIRMED, MS. BONDI WILL TAKE THE HELM AT A VERY TURBULENT TIME FOR THIS COUNTRY AND FOR THAT DEPARTMENT. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT’S— IS IN INFECTED, AND HURRICANE IS TEXTBOOK INVESTIGATION. THE FBI INVESTIGATION WAS BUILT ON FAKE STEELE DOESIERS FUNDED BY THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AND CLINTON 2AMPAIGN 2HO 2ORKED WITH FOREIGN OPERATIVES. MY WORK EXPOSED THAT THE FBI ACTUALLY KNEW THE DOSSIER WAS FALSE INFORMATION AND WAS LIKELY A PART OF A RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN. EVEN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH DOSSIER DEFECTS AND POLITICAL INFECTIONS THE JUSTICE AT THE POINT IN TIME SOUGHT FISA WARRANT RENEWALS AND TOOK OTHER ACTION. AFTER DIRECTING MY OVERSIGHT STAFF TO INVESTIGATE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MISHANDLINGS OF THE MATTER, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RETALIATED IN ISSUING A SUBPOENA FOR MY OWN STAFFS PHONE RECORDS. THAT’S RIGHT, CHALLENGING MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF DOING MY OVERSIGHT DUTIES. WHAT’S NEXT? THEN A FEW DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES PRESSURED THE FBI FOREIGN INFLUENCE TASK FORCE TO SUPPOSEDLY BRIEF ME AND SENATOR JOHNSON RELATED TO OUR BIDEN FAMILY INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST THE 20TH, SENATOR JOHNSON AND I HAD THAT INFAMOUS BRIEFING FROM THE FBI. LATER THIS FBI’S BRIEFING CONTENTS WERE LEAKED TO THE MEDIA, EVEN THOUGH THE FBI PROMISED CONFIDENTIALITY. THAT LEAK FALSELY LABORED OUR OVERSIGHT WORK AS, YOU GUESSED IT, RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION. TO THIS DAY, OVER FOUR YEARS LATER, THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND THE FBI REFUSE TO PRODUCE US THE INTELLIGENCE BASIS FOR THAT BRIEFING. THE TITLE OF THIS WALL STREET JOURNAL’S ARTICLE SUMS IT UP, QUOTE, THE FBI’S DUBIOUS BRIEFING, DID THE BUREAU SET TWO U.S. G.O.P. SENATORS UP AT THE BEHEST OF DEMOCRATS, QUESTION MARK, END OF QUOTE. SO I KNOW, AS OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS COMMITTEE AND IN AND OUT OF CONGRESS, KNOW WHAT GOVERNMENT WEAPONIZATION IS. AND THEN WE GET TO SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH AND HIS LAW FARE OPERATION. IT INVOLVED AN UNPRECEDENTED FBI RAID ON TRUMP’S HOUSE, INCLUDING AGENTS THAT EVEN SEARCHED THE FORMER FIRST LADY CLOTHING DRAWERS. HILLARY CLINTON AND JOE BIDEN CERTAINLY DID NOT RECEIVE THE SAME TREATMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF THE REGARDING THEIR RECORDS. INDEED, AS MY OVERSIGHT EXPOSED, THE FBI AMAZINGLY AGREED TO DESTROY LAPTOP RECORDS AND RECORDS ASSOCIATED WITH CLINTON’S STAFF. THIS ORWELLION CONDUCT SHOULD HAVE NO QUARTER. ON TOP OF IT ALL, THE FBI SPECIAL AGENT THIBEAULT, THE ANTI-TRUMP AGENT THAT VIOLATED THE HATCH ACT FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB, STARTED ONE OF JACK SMITH’S CASES, BUT JACK SMITH WASN’T THE ONLY DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL WHO TRIED TO INFLUENCE THIS PAST ELECTION. “THE WASHINGTON POST” REPORTED JUST LAST AUGUST ABOUT A PREVIOUSLY UNDISCLOSED MULLER INVESTIGATION INTO TRUMP THAT WAS CLOSED FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE AND IT BEING QUOTE, UNQUOTE, FISHING EXPEDITION. THAT NEWS REPORTING WAS BASED ON SEALED COURT RECORDS, GOVERNMENT RECORDS, AND POTENTIALLY CLASSIFIED INFORMATION ROUGHLY 90 DAYS BEFORE THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THE 2USTICE 2EPARTMENT 2EAKED THAT INFORMATION TO THE PRESS TO IMPACT THE ELECTION AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THEY DID IT WHILE STIFF-ARMING CONGRESSIONAL REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION THAT WOULD PROVE EMBARRASSING TO THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION. SO, LET US NOT FORGET SOME OF THE MORE AND OTHER FLAGRANT ABUSES OF POWER THAT WE’VE SEEN FROM THE DOJ AND THE FBI OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. AND I DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO SPEND ON THESE THAT I SPENT ON, TWO OR THREE OTHERS, BUT JUST TO LIST THEM. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE USED THE MIGHT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROSECUTE INDIVIDUALS PEACEFULLY PRAYING OUTSIDE OF AN ABORTION CLINIC. THE FBI SUGGESTED THAT TRADITIONAL CATHOLICS COULD BE TERRORIST THREATS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS HERETO, ANTI-SEMITIC, ANTI-IMMIGRATION, ANTI-GBT AND WHITE SUPREMACY IDEOLOGY, END OF QUOTE, THE FBI OPENED DOZENS OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO PARENTS WHO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS REGARDING CURRICULUM CHOICES AND COVID-19 MANDATES. THE FBI APPLIED UNDUE PRESSURE TO SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO CENSOR SO-CALLED MISINFORMATION,DOWNGRADING OR REMOVING FLAGGED SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND REMOVING USERS. THESE ARE ONLY A FEW PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS EXAMPLES OF ROT INFESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE IMPACT OF THIS POLITICAL INFECTION IN OUR ONCE STORIED LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTITUTIONS IS CATASTROPHIC. BY EVERY METRIC, THE BIDEN-HARRIS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CONDUCT HAS FAILED TO LIVE UP TO OUR COUNTRY’S IDEALS. SO MS. BONDI, SHOULD YOU BE CONFIRMED, THE ACTIONS YOU TAKE TO CHANGE THE DEPARTMENT’S COURSE MUST BE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY SO THAT THE CONDUCT I JUST DESCRIBED NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. THE ONLY WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS IS THROUGH TRANSPARENCY FOR THE CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. NOW TO MY FRIEND, RANKING MEMBER DURBIN.

THANK YOU, SENATOR GRASSLEY, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE’S LONGSTANDING BIPARTISAN PRACTICES FOR NOMINEES, THAT WAS IN DOUBT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, BUT I TALKED TO MR. GRASSLEY AND TO ESTABLISH THESE OVER THE YEARS. OUR PROCESS IS RIGOROUS AND SHOWS HOW SERIOUSLY MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TAKE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF ADVISE AND CONSENT. MS. BONDI, THANKS FOR COMING TO MY OFFICE LAST WEEK TO DISCUSS YOUR NOMINATION. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CHARGE JUSTICE SYSTEM CANNOT BE OVERSTATED AS OUR NATION’S CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OVERSEES THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF AMERICANS, ECONOMIC FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY, PUBLIC SAFETY AND OF COURSE, NATIONAL SECURITY. IN SHORT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS REAL IMPACT ON AMERICA’S EVERYDAY’S LIFE. IT IS CRITICAL THAT ANY NOMINEE FOR THIS SPACE BE COMMITTED FIRST AND FOREMOST TO THE CONSTITUTION AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND NOT ANY PRESIDENT OR POLITICAL AGENDA. BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP CLAIMS HE HAS, QUOTE, AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO DO WHAT HE WANTS WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. AND THAT’S HOW HE CONDUCTED HIS FIRST TERM. HE INTERFERED WITH THE CRIMINAL CASES OF HIS FRIENDS AND ALLIES AND SUCCESSFULLY PRESSURED DOJ TO INVESTIGATE HIS RIVALS. HE EVEN TRIED TO USE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THE PRESIDENT-ELECT MADE IT CLEAR 2E 2ALUES ONE THING ABOVE ALL ELSE AND HE SAID IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, LOYALTY. SPEAKING ABOUT ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS, DONALD TRUMP SAID, QUOTE, THE ONLY REASON I GAVE HIM THE JOB BECAUSE I FELT LOYALTY. HE WAS AN ORIGINAL SUPPORTER, BUT WHEN THEN ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS DID THE RIGHT THING AND RECUSED HIMSELF FROM THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION, TRUMP SAID HE SHOULD NEVER HAVE NOMINATED HIM AND HE FIRED HIM. TRUMP THEN NOMINATED BILL BARR, SUCCESSFULLY AUDITIONED FOR THE JOB IN UNSOLICITED MEMO THAT SHARPLY CRITICIZED THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION AND ONCE CONFIRMED INTERVENED IN MULTIPLE CRIMINAL CASES OF TRUMP’S POLITICAL ALLIES AND SPREAD FALSEHOODS ABOUT ELECTION FRAUD, BUT IN DECEMBER OF 2020, WHEN BILL BARR FINALLY ANNOUNCED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD THAT WOULD CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION, TRUMP DISMISSED HIM. FIRED HIS SECOND ATTORNEY GENERAL. THIS TIME AROUND, PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP HAS VOWED NOT JUST TO USE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO ADVANCE HIS POLITICAL INTERESTS, BUT ALSO TO SEEK, QUOTE, RETRIBUTION AGAINST, QUOTE, THE ENEMY WITHIN. HE HAS REPEATEDLY THREATENED TO ARREST, PROSECUTE, JAIL AND OTHERWISE PUNISH THOSE HE CONSIDERS HIS ENEMIES, INCLUDES REPORTERS, PROSECUTORS, JUDGES, POLL WORKERS, MILITARY OFFICIALS AND EVEN HIS OWN FORMER POLITICAL APPOINTEES. EVEN BEFORE TAKING OFFICE, TRUMP HAS FORCED OUT HIS OWN FBI DIRECTOR HE APPOINTED CHRIS WRAY AND TRYING TO REPLACE WRAY WITH KASH PATEL WHOSE MAIN QUALIFICATION SEEMS TO BE HIS LOYALTY TO DONALD TRUMP. AND PATEL HAS COMPILED AN ENEMY LIST OF QUOTE, GOVERNMENT GANGSTERS TO TARGET THAT HE INCLUDES FORMER TRUMP APPOINTEES LIKE DIRECTOR WRAY, ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR AND DEFENSE SECRETARY ESPER. AND TRUMP’S APPROACH IS A STARK CONTRAST WITH THE BIPARTISAN VIEW BORN OUT OF THE POST-NIXON ERA, THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD SERVE THE INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NOT ANYONE PRESIDENT. AND FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED A REMINDER, PRESIDENT NIXON ORDERED THEM TO FIRE ARCHIBALD COX INVESTIGATING WATERGATE. TWO OFFICIALS RESIGNED RATHER THAN CARRY OUT RICHARD NIXON’S ORDERS. WHEN THIS COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THE APPOINTMENT OF LORETTA LYNCH TO BE PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL, A REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE EMPHASIZED AND I QUOTE, WHAT WE NEED FROM OUR NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS INDEPENDENCE. THAT SAME MEMBER WHO NOW STILL SERVES ON THE COMMITTEE SIDE AND I QUOTE, THE JOB IS NOT TO BE THE PRESIDENT’S WING MAN. THE JOB IS TO REPRESENT ALL AMERICANS. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MUST BE WILLING TO STAND UP TO THE PRESIDENT AND SAY NO WHEN THE OFFICE DEMANDS IT. WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE MERRICK GARLAND CAME BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE, ANOTHER ONE OF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES STILL SERVING TOLD GARLAND AND I QUOTE, MY SOLE CRITERION FOR VOTING FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION IS YOUR PLEDGE TO MAKE SURE THAT POLITICS DOES NOT AFFECT YOUR JOB AS ATTORNEY GENERAL. SO THE VIEW THAT THE JOB MUST BE INSULATED FROM POLITICAL INFLUENCE AND SHOULD NOT BE WEAPONIZED AGAINST POLITICAL RIVALS HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN BIPARTISAN CERTAINLY ON THIS COMMITTEE. AT THIS CRUCIAL MOMENT IN HISTORY THAT VIEW, NOT MR. TRUMP’S VIEW MUST PREVAIL. MS. BONDI, YOU HAVE MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING NEARLY A DECADE OF SERVICE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND ONE OF THE LARGEST STATES OF THE NATION, BUT I NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU WOULD TELL THE PRESIDENT NO IF YOU’RE ASKED TO DO SOMETHING THAT’S WRONG, ILLEGALLY, OR UNCONSTITUTIONAL. MS. BONDI, YOU’RE ONE OF FOUR TRUMP PERSONAL LAWYERS HE HAS ALREADY SELECTED FOR TOP POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. YOU JOINED MR. TRUMP IN WORKING TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION. YOU’VE REPEATEDLY DESCRIBED INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS OF MR. TRUMP AS WITCH HUNTS AND YOU’VE ECHOED HIS CALLS FOR INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING HIS POLITICAL 2PPONENTS. THIS FLIES IN THE FACE OF EVIDENCE LIKE MR. TRUMP’S CALL TO GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER. WE’VE ALL HEARD THAT AUDIO RECORDING. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF ANTI-DEMOCRATIC EFFORTS THAT IN THE PAST YOU HAVE DEFENDED. AND IT’S CRITICAL THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHETHER YOU REMAIN SUPPORTIVE OF MR. TRUMP’S ACTIONS. I ALSO HAVE QUESTIONS WHETHER YOU WILL FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE RATHER THAN WEALTHY SPECIAL INTERESTS. I’M CONCERNED THAT YOU FAILED TO IDENTIFY YOUR EXTENSIVE LOBBYING FOR FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND BIG CORPORATIONS AS POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS IN THIS HEARING ON THAT ISSUE. THAT’S WHY I’VE ASKED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES ON YOUR LOBBYING FOR THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE AND YOUR FOREIGN LOBBYING DISCLOSURES. PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF QATAR, REPORTEDLY PAID YOU $115,000 A MONTH TO — AND LEADING TO HIGHER PRICES FOR AMERICAN CONSUMERS, NOT FAVOR CORPORATE GIANTS YOU’VE LOBBIED FOR LIKE AMAZON AND UBER. I ALSO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF YOUR ACTIONS AS FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL. I’M CONCERNED THAT YOUR OFFICE FAILED TO INVESTIGATE MORE THAN TWO DOZEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FOR-PROFIT TRUMP UNIVERSITY AFTER MR. TRUMP DONATED TO YOUR REELECTION CAMPAIGN AND HELD A FUNDRAISER FOR YOU AT MAR-A-LAGO N ADDITION TO A LONG TRACK RECORD ON CIVIL RIGHTS, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, VOTING RIGHTS AND LGBTQ RIGHTS THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED. IN CONTRAST, MS. BONDI, MERRICK GARLAND DIDN’T CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN, NEVER SERVED AS HIS PERSONAL ATTORNEY, NEVER LOBBIED ON ABOVE OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND CORPORATE GIANTS. AFTER YEARS OF CRITICISM ABOUT MERRICK GARLAND, I HOPE NIGH MY COLLEAGUES ARE PREPARED TO HOLD YOU TO THE SAME STANDARD.

OKAY, IT’S TIME FOR SENATORS TO INTRODUCE THE NOMINEE THE FIRST ONE WILL BE SENATOR SCOTT AT THE TABLE, AS YOU SEE, AND SENATOR SCHMIDT AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE AT HIS PLACE ON THE DIAS. SENATOR SCOTT,PLEASE PROCEED.

MR. CHAIRMAN, RANKING MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, IT’S AN HONOR FOR ME TO INTRODUCE MY GOOD FRIEND, PAM BONDI AND PEOPLE APPEARING IN SUPPORT, HER HUSBAND JOHN, HER MOTHER, FATHER-IN-LAW, SISTER, BROTHER, SISTER-IN-LAW, AND FAMILY MEMBERS. MANY MORE WOULD BE HERE IF SPACE ALLOWED. I CAN TELL YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY, PRESIDENT TRUMP COULDN’T HAVE A BETTER LEADER THAN PAM BONDI FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL. SHE’S UNDOUBTEDLY QUALIFIED. BRILLIANT AND COMMITTED TO DEFENDING AND PROTECTING THE LAWS OF THIS NATION AND HAS A TRACK RECORD TO MOVE IT. NO SECRETS OF THE DOJ FACING IS PUBLIC TRUST CRISIS AFTER DEMOCRATS SPENT YEARS WEAPONIZING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT ATTACKS AMERICAN PEOPLE INSTEAD OF PROTECTING AND DEFENDING THEM. THAT WILL CHANGE UNDER PAM BONDI. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP THE DOJ WILL FAIRLY ENFORCE THE LAWS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND KEEP OUR NATION SAFE AND CRACK DOWN ON VIOLENT CRIMES AND DANGEROUS DRUGS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL TRUST HER TO DO SO. I KNOW THAT WELL BECAUSE I WORKED ALONGSIDE PAM BONDI EIGHT YEARS WHEN I WAS FLORIDA GOVERNOR AND SHE WAS FLORIDA’S ELECTED ATTORNEY GENERAL. WORKING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF FLORIDIANS TO MAKE FLORIDA THE BEST STATE IN THE NATION TO LIVE AND RAISE AND FAMILY. PAM WAS AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER WORKING TO KEEP FLORIDA SAFE AND UPHOLD THE LAWS OF OUR STATE, ENSURING THAT CRIME IS AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE ONE OF HIS TOP VIOLENT CRIME THAT HAS PLAGUED OUR COUNTRY FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. PAM BONDI AS U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, SHE 2AS 2 PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN ACHIEVING REDUCTIONS IN CRIME AND VIOLENT CRIME DURING HER TIME AS FLORIDA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL. …

ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS. THESE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES SAVED IN COMMUNITIES IMPROVED AND MADE SAFER AND FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES PROTECTED. AS FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI SPEARHEADED LIFE-SAVING INITIATIVE LIKE TACKLING THE ONGOING EPIDEMIC AND FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. HER ACHIEVEMENTS ARE TOO MANY FOR ME TO LIST IN THIS SHORT INTRODUCTION. AS U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI WILL RESTORE LAW AND ORDER. SHE WILL PUT AMERICANS INTEREST FIRST AND MAKE THE NATION A BETTER AND SAFER PLACE. I URGE EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT MY FRIEND PAM BONDI AND I LOOK FOR TO VOTING FOR HER CONFIRMATION SOON AND HELP HER GET TO WORK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. RANKING MEMBER DURBIN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME AND A PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE PAM BONDI PRESIDENT TRUMP’S NOMINEE TO BE THE 87th ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES. I HAVE KNOWN AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH PAM FOR YEARS. AND APPLIED TO CALL HER A FRIEND. WHEN PAM WAS NOMINATED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP MY REACTION WAS THIS IS A HOME RUN. AS MANY OF US ARE I WAS ONLY OUTDONE BY SENATOR GRAHAM WHO DESCRIBED THE NOMINATION AS A GRAND SLAM TOUCHDOWN HOLE-IN-ONE ACE PATRICK SLAMDUNK OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL. , AND HE’S RIGHT. AS THE LATER JOINED BY MORE THAN 100 FORMER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS PUT IT, QUOTE IT’S ALL TOO RARE FOR SENIOR JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS MUCH LESS THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL TO SUCH A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, END QUOTE. PAM EXEMPLIFIES AND PERSONIFIES THE PROBLEM OF JUSTICE MISSION TO UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES AS AMERICANS. PAM HAS DISTINGUISHED HERSELF IN A CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE THAT IS TAKEN HER FROM HER SMALL-TOWN UPBRINGING AND TEMPLE TERRACE FLORIDA TO A HEARING BEFORE THIS ESTEEMED COMMITTEE. AFTER ATTENDING UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SHE STARTED HER CAREER AS A LOCAL PROSECUTOR AT HILLSBORO COUNTY FLORIDA. AS A LOCAL PROSECUTOR FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES PAM KEPT HER COMMUNITY SAFE, PROSECUTING VIOLENT CRIMINALS, DRUG DEALERS, THOSE WHO WOULD THREATEN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO STOOD IN OPPOSITION TO THE RULE OF LAW. PAM’S FELLOW FLORIDIANS COLLECTED OR TO SERVICE FLORIDA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL WERE SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN IN STATE HISTORY ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE. AS A FORMER STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL MYSELF I CAN VOUCH FOR THE DEEP EXPERIENCE PAM BONDI HAS DEVELOPED FROM SERVING IN THAT ROLE. AS A CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL IN HER STATE SHE WORKED WITH LOCAL PROSECUTORS TO FIGHT CRIME, WORKED TO PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, CONSTITUTE RIGHT FLORIDIANS AND STOOD UP FOR THE LITTLE GUY BY TAKING ON ABUSES OF POWER. AS FLORIDA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO COMBAT THE AWKWARD CRISIS, FIGHTING PILL MILLS AND HELPING TO COMBAT THE WIDESPREAD MISUSE AND TRAFFICKING OF DEADLY DRUGS INCLUDING FENTANYL WHICH HAVE DEVASTATED FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. SHE STOOD UP FOR FLORIDIANS IN THE WAKE OF A 2008 FINANCIAL CRISIS LEADING TO NATIONAL MORTGAGE RESULTING 56 BILLION IN COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS. AFTER THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL PAM WAS THERE INSTEAD OF FOR FLORIDIANS BY GETTING 2 BILLION FROM THE COMPANIES RESPONSIBLE. ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE PAM HAS ALWAYS TAKE IT UPON HERSELF TO HELP OTHERS. SHE IS INCREDIBLY GENEROUS AND SOMEONE I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON. SHE IS TRUTHFUL, TOUGH AND SHE’S A BORN LEADER. SHE HAS CHARTED 2ER OWN COURSE WITH THE RARE COMBINATION OF BACKBONE AND HEART. THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES MUST RESTORE TRUST BY REVERSING THE WEAPONIZATION WE’VE SEEN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. AND REFOCUSING THAT DEPARTMENT TO ITS CORE MISSION ADMINISTERING JUSTICE HERE THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL MUST PROMOTE THE RULE OF LAW, TAKE ON VIOLENT CRIME, KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND SAFEGUARD THE GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS THAT EACH AMERICAN HAS PROTECTED IN OUR CONSTITUTION. I CAN THINK OF NO ONE, NO ONE MORE UP TO THAT TASK THEN PAM BONDI. A CAREER PROSECUTOR AND WIDELY RESPECTED ATTORNEY GENERAL WITH THE PRUDENCE, , FORTITUDE AND TEMPERANCE FOR THIS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT JOB. MR. CHAIRMAN, IT IS TRULY AN HONOR FOR ME TO INTRODUCE PAM BONDI TO THIS COMMITTEE AND TO OUR COUNTRY HERE TODAY AND SPEAK ON HER BEHALF AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT HER NOMINATION WILL BE SWIFTLY CONFIRMED.

THANK YOU, SENATOR SCHMITT. MS. BONDI, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND BEFORE YOUR STATED I WOULD LIKE TO ADMINISTER OATH. WOULD YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND ANSWER THIS QUESTION. DO YOU SWEAR THAT THE TESTIMONY ABOUT TO GIVE TO THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD?

I DO

PLEASE BE SEATED AND GO, MOVE AHEAD WITH YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN GRASSLEY, RANKING MEMBER DURBIN AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. I’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH ALMOST ALL OF YOU AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. I’M GRATEFUL TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND TO THIS COMMITTEE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO BE THE 87th ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES. I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT MY FAMILY. AND IF YOU CAN BEAR WITH ME FOR JUST A MOMENT, A LOT OF THEM HAVE MADE A VERY LONG TRIP AND I WROTE THEM ALL DOWN SO I DON’T FORGET ANYONE. MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER, RETIRED KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, WOULD NOT BE WITHOUT MY MOM AS OF THE WEEK AGO IT WAS 12 YEARS SINCE WE LOST MY DAD TO LEUKEMIA. FEELS LIKE 12 DAYS. MY AMAZING HUSBAND, JOHN, AND IS TO MAKE INCREDIBLE GIRLS, COLLINS I SENIOR UNIVERSE OF FLORIDA AND ALL YOU ON THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO KNOW EMILY IS AN CYBERSECURITY. THERE’S A THIRD WHO IS TRAVELING ABROAD. I WISH HE COULD BE HERE. MY AMAZING FATHER IN LAW, DAVID. BY SISTER, STAFF MY BROTHER-IN-LAW IS HOME WITH MY NIECE. MY NEPHEWS COME IF YOU COULD USE RACIAL HAND, AS IN, JAKE SOON-TO-BE SAVANNAH. MY BROTHER BRAD, A BRILLIANT LAWYER. MY SISTER-IN-LAW CANDY, AND MY NEPHEWS JUSTIN WHO JUST GOT A 4.0 AT UVA, REX, GREAT COLLEGE TENNIS PLAYER. BRAD, GREAT TENNIS PLAYER. IS RANDY — AND MY KNEES, MY BEAUTIFUL NIECE AND THE LITTLE GUY IS IN SCHOOL BECAUSE HE’S TEN. MY FRIENDS LESLIE, CATHOLIC AND 50, KIM, PAUL AND SOME OF MY FORMER COWORKERS AND RANKING MEMBER DURBIN IF YOU WANT TO GET DIRT ON MEET THESE WOMEN HAVE KNOWN ME SINCE I WAS A CHILD. SERIOUSLY, MOST OF THEM. SO THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME IN THAT. THEY ALL MADE A VERY LONG TRIP TO BE HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR HOLDING MY HEARING AS WELL AND NOT POSTPONING IT. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU ALL. FROM THE MOMENT I INTERNED AT THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IN TAMPA FOR ALL HE WANTED TO DO WAS BE A PROSECUTOR. THE SUPREME COURT CERTIFIED ME AND I AND I HAVE FOUR JURY TRIALS WILL STILL IN LAW SCHOOL. LOST MOST OF THEM BUT HAVE FOUR JURY TRIALS AND NEVER WANTED TO DO 2NYTHING 2LSE. I CONTINUED MY CAREER THERE TRYING EVERYTHING FROM DUIs, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, CAPITAL MURDER CASES. THE WHOLE GAMUT. I BECAME A LEAD TRIAL ATTORNEY IN COURTROOM EVERY DAY TRYING CAREER CRIMINALS WITH THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF A DIVISION AND THAT ULTIMATELY WAS FELONY BUREAU CHIEF AND EVENTUALLY LEFT TO BECOME FLORIDA’S 37th ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA. NOTHING IS IMPACTED MY CAREER MORE THAN MY EXPERIENCE AS A STATE PROSECUTOR. BECAUSE I GOT TO KNOW AND STILL KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MANY VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM WHEN I WAS A PROSECUTOR. UPON BECOMING ATTORNEY GENERAL AND 2011 I PROUDLY SERVED FOR TWO TERMS. I WAS FROM LIMITED. I WOULD PROBABLY STILL BE THE RIGHT NOW IT HAD NOT BEEN KICKED OUT OF OFFICE BY TERM LIMITS. I LOVE BEING ATTORNEY GENERAL. I DID MY BEST TO KEEP FLORIDA SAFE, TO CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME AND TO FIGHT THE OPIOID CRISIS AND THE DRUG CRISIS NOT ONLY FACING FLORIDA BUT THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY. OUT OF THE TOP 100, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I’M MOST PROUD OF, OXYCODONE DISPENSERS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, I BELIEVE IT WAS 98 OF THEM, 90 OR 98 OF THEM, LIVED IN FLORIDA. WE FOUGHT FOR TOUGH LEGISLATION. KIDS WERE DROPPING DEAD EVERY DAY. WE FOUGHT FOR TOUGH LEGISLATION, AND AFTER THAT LEGISLATION NONE OF THOSE OPIOID DEALERS, DOCTORS, PRACTICE IN FLORIDA HERE WE FOUGHT TO ELIMINATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY RAISING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION AND TALKING TO PARENTS AND TALKING TO CHILDREN. WE ALSO PROVIDED CRITICAL RESOURCES INCLUDING SAFE HOUSES THAT MY STATE WAS LACKING. ON THE CIVIL SIDE WE WORKED TO PROTECT CONSUMERS. WE TACKLED EVERYTHING INCLUDING OFF-LABEL PRESCRIPTION MARKETING WHICH AFFECTS AS YOU KNOW MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN’T AFFORD PRESCRIPTIONS AS WELL. WE PARTNERED WITH STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM BOTH PARTIES AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ACROSS ADMINISTRATIONS. WE WENT AFTER PRICE GOUGERS DURING HURRICANES. IF CONFIRMED AS THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES MY OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE WILL BE TO RETURN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO ITS CORE MISSION OF KEEPING AMERICANS SAFE AND VIGOROUSLY PROSECUTING CRIMINALS. AND THAT INCLUDES GETTING BACK TO BASICS, GANGS, DRUGS, TERRORIST, CARTELS, OUR BORDER AND ARE FOREIGN ADVERSARIES. THAT IS WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPECT AND THAT IS WHAT THEY DESERVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. IF CONFIRMED I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER AND IT WILL BE MY GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN. MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN ALSO REQUIRES REDUCING RECIDIVISM. WE HAVE TO FIX THE BUREAU OF PRISONS AND I’M LOOKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. THE BUREAU HAS SUFFERED FROM YEARS OF MISMANAGEMENT, LACK OF FUNDING AND LOW MORALE. I WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST STEP ACT I THINK MORE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AND MORE CAN BE DONE ON THAT FRONT. PRESIDENT TRUMP’S LEADERSHIP ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM HAS DEMONSTRATED WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN A PRESIDENT IS UNAFRAID TO DO THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED TO BE TOO DIFFICULT. WE HAVE TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND GET SOLUTIONS FOR ALL OF THESE 2ROBLEMS. LIKE THE PRESIDENT I BELIEVE WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF A NEW GOLDEN AGE WHERE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CAN AND WILL DO BETTER IF I AM CONFIRMED. LASTLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IF CONFIRMED I WILL FIGHT EVERY DAY TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE AND INTEGRITY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND EACH OF ITS COMPONENTS. THE PARTISANSHIP, THE WEAPONIZATION WILL BE GONE. AMERICA WILL HAVE ONE TIER OF JUSTICE FOR ALL. AND ALL THIS WORK I WILL COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH THIS COMMITTEE. I WILL WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AS I HAD COMMITTED TO DO WHEN I MET WITH ALMOST ALL OF YOU. AND I WILL PARTNER NOT ONLY WITH THE FEDERAL AGENCIES BUT WITH THE STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT OUR GREAT COUNTRY. I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY AND WORKING TOGETHER. FOR THIS COUNTRY AND OUR CONSTITUTION. THANK YOU SENATORS.

I WILL ASK FIRST QUESTION OF AN SENATOR DURBIN AND THEN I’LL CALL ON THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE THE WAY THAT SENATOR DURBIN WOULD SAY SO ON THEIR ARRIVAL WHO ARE HEREBY SENIORITY AND THE SAME WAY ON THE HOUSE SIDE. AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT IT DON’T ABUSE THE SEVEN MINUTES. I WANT YOU TO HAVE YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS BINDER THAT I PUT UP HERE. IT GETS TO A KEY FACTOR OF EACH SENATORS ROLE IN OVERSIGHT. IT CONTAINS 144 OVERSIGHT LETTERS THAT I SENT TO THE BIDEN-HARRIS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND ITS COMPONENT AGENCIES WITH MANY OF THOSE LETTERS IN THERE TO THE FBI. ADDING LETTERS TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 165 LETTERS SO I SENT MORE LETTERS SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN IN MY OFFICE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. SHOULD YOU BE CONFIRMED, 144 LETTERS WILL BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. RESPONSES I’VE RECEIVED SO FAR IN TWO CATEGORIES, FIRST THEY WERE NOT ANSWERED AT ALL. SECOND, I RECEIVED A RESPONSE BUT IT DIDN’T FULLY RESPOND. SAID ANOTHER WAY, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MERELY 70 WORDS ON A PIECE OF PAPER. SO SHOULD YOU BE CONFIRMED YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO RESPOND EVEN TO THE MINORITY AND CONSIDER A LETTER FROM THEM, EVEN IF MY SIGNATURE IS NOT ON IT AS THEY WANT INFORMATION. WILL YOU COMMIT TO RESPONDING TO MY OVERSIGHT REQUESTS AS WELL AS THE REQUESTS OF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE?

CHAIRMAN, EITHER I OR MY TOP STAFF WILL PERSONALLY REVIEW THE LETTERS AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO RESPOND TO YOU.

YOUR TENURE AS FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS IMPRESSIVE. YOU FOUGHT AGAINST PILL MILLS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ELIMINATED A BACKLOG OF RATE TEST KITS IN STATEMENTS. YOU FOUGHT AGAINST RETAIL THEFT AND YOU WERE KNOWN TO STAND FOR LAW AND ORDER. WITH SUCH ACHIEVEMENTS IS EASY TO SEE WHY THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA REELECTED YOU IN 2014 AND WHY PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP NOMINATED YOU TO SERVE AS THE NATION’S CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. SO THIS GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO TELL US ON THIS COMMITTEE AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WHAT YOU ARE PROUD OF AS YOUR RECORD AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FLORIDA.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN 2RASSLEY. I AM, I WAS TRULY HONORED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR EIGHT YEARS BUT IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT. I HAD GREAT PEOPLE AROUND ME. MANY OF WHOM WERE IN THIS ROOM TODAY. AND WE DID A LOT. WE DID A LOT TO FIGHT CRIME AND I’VE BEEN REMINISCING A LOT SINCE I WAS ASKED TO TAKE THIS NOMINATION HERE OPIOIDS AS I TALKED ABOUT WERE A TOP PRIORITY RIGHT WHEN I I TOOK OFFICE. WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE I WENT TO THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA. PARENTS WERE WALKING UP TO ME HANDING ME PICTURES OF THEIR CHILDREN WHO WERE DECEASED FROM OPIOID ABUSE. AFTER I WAS ELECTED I TOOK THOSE PICTURES AND I FRAMED THEM IN MY OFFICE AS A GOAL OF STOPPING THAT FIGHT, WHICH I TALKED ABOUT IN MY OPENING STATEMENT. AND IF U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL I’LL BRING THOSE PICTURES BACK OUT AND THEY WILL BE THERE TO INSPIRE ME ON THE FOR THE DRUG ABUSE WE’RE FACING THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY. WE ALSO LEARN THAT SOMETHING ELSE IS HAPPENING, PREGNANT WOMEN WERE HAVING BABIES AS A RESULT OF BEING OPIOID DEPENDENT. WE CALLED NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME. WITH FIVE TO EDUCATE MOTHERS. WE FOUGHT THAT ISSUE WELL. FENTANYL WAS WREAKING HAVOC IN OUR COUNTRY BUT IT WAS JUST GETTING STARTED. I FOUGHT MY OWN PART OF IT ON SCHEDULING FENTANYL BECAUSE AT THAT TIME PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING HE RARELY GOT IN THE HOSPITAL ON A PATCH AFTER SURGERY. APPLES AND ORANGES AND BOY DO WE ALL KNOW THAT NOW, THE DIFFERENCE. FENTANYL IS RAGING THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY AND I WOULD EVERYTHING I CAN TO FIGHT THAT WITH AGENCIES THAT FALL UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. HUMAN TRAFFICKING BECAME A TOP PRIORITY FOR ME AS ATTORNEY GENERAL. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ON A BIPARTISAN TRIP TO GO TO MEXICO, AND THE ONE THING I FOUND OUT THERE, THEY WERE DOING BETTER THAN WE WERE. THEY HAD SAFE HOUSES. I SAW THINGS I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD SEE AND ALL THESE THINGS IN MY PAST HAVE FORMED THE PERSON I AM RIGHT NOW SITTING HERE BEFORE YOU. I CAME BACK TO FLORIDA. WE STARTED HUMAN TRAFFICKING COUNSEL, AND WE PARTNERED WITH OTHERS AND WE EXPANDED AND ADDED SAFEHOUSES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY HERE ARE IN THE COUNTRY NOW BUT BUT I IN THE COUNTRY NOW BUT BUT W IN THE COUNTRY NOW BUT BUT U IN THE COUNTRY NOW BUT BUT D LIKE TO PARTNER WITH BOTH SIDES, IF CONFIRMED COME TO CONTINUE THOSE EFFORTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTERRUPT YOU.

YES, SIR.

AND GO TO ANOTHER QUESTION AND I WILL HAVE ANOTHER ROUND SO YOU CAN FINISH ON THAT POINT. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS CENTRAL TO FIGHTING GOVERNMENT WASTE AND FRAUD. THE FALSE CLAIMS ACT. I WANT, WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND CALLS ME ONCE A A YEAR. HE CALLED YESTERDAY TO TELL ME THE SUCCESS OF THE FALSE CLAIMS ACT SINCE 1986 WHEN I GOT IT PASSED AND PRESIDENT REAGAN SIGNED IT. IT’S BROUGHT IN $78 BILLION AS OF YESTERDAY, HIS REPORT MOST OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF PATRIOTIC WHISTLEBLOWERS WHO FOUND THE FRAUD AND BROUGHT THE CASES FORWARD AT THEIR OWN RISK. THE SUPREME COURT HAS LONG UPHELD THE LAW AS CONSTITUTIONALITY OF WHAT YOU DO KNOW YOUR VIEW IS A FALSE CLAIMS AT CONSTITUTIONAL? BEFORE YOU ANSWER THAT, ONE TIME IN THE 1990s ONE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERALS SAID IT WASN’T CONSTITUTIONAL AND WHEN THE SAME PERSON BY THE NAME OF BAR WAS BACK FIVE YEARS AGO AS ATTORNEY GENERAL HE SAID IT WAS CONSTITUTIONAL. SO IF CONFIRMED WHEN YOU COMMIT, AND TO THAT FIRST QUESTION. DO YOU THINK IT’S CONSTITUTIONAL? WOULD YOU DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF —

I WOULD DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF COURSE IF THE COURT STOP THAT, SENATOR.

LAST QUESTION. IF CONFIRMED WOULD YOU COMMIT TO CONTINUE DOJ’s DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF IT, AND WHEN YOU ENSURE THE ENTIRE STAFF AND FUNDING LEVELS TO PROPERLY SUPPORT, PROSECUTE FALSE CLAIM CASES.

THE FALSE CLAIMS ACT IS SO IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY BY WHAT YOU SAID WITH WHISTLEBLOWERS AS WELL IN THE PROTECTION AND THE MONEY IT BRINGS BACK TO OUR COUNTRY. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. SENATOR DURBIN.

MS. BONDI, IF YOU’RE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR NOMINATION THIS DEMOCRAT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THREE WORDS OF ADVICE. ANSWER GRASS LEAVES LETTERS. YOU’LL NEVER HEAR THE END OF IT IF YOU DON’T. AT ISSUE I BELIEVE IN THIS NOMINATION HEARING IS NOT YOUR COMPETENCE KNOW YOUR EXPERIENCE. AT ISSUE IS YOUR ABILITY TO SAY NO. MORE THAN ANY OF THE CABINET OFFICIAL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS TO BE PREPARED TO PUT THE CONSTITUTION FIRST AND EVEN TELL THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES YOU ARE WRONG. THE POLITICAL DANGER AND PERSONAL COSTS OF SUCH A DECISION ARE WELL DOCUMENTED. YOU HAVE ONLY TO ASK FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS AND BILL BARR WHOM DONALD TRUMP SACKED FOR LACK OF LOYALTY. AND SO I HAVE THREE BASIC QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU. MOST AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT CENTRAL TO THE PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER IN A DEMOCRACY IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE RESULTS OF AN ELECTION. TO MY KNOWLEDGE DONALD TRUMP HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THE LEGAL RESULT OF THE 2020s ELECTION. ARE YOU PREPARED TO SAY TODAY UNDER OATH WITHOUT RESERVATION DONALD TRUMP LOST THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST TO JOE BIDEN IN 2020?

RANKING MEMBER DURBIN, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. HE WAS DULY SWORN IN AND HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. THAT WAS A PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER. PRESIDENT TRUMP LEFT OFFICE AND WAS OVERWHELMINGLY ELECTED IN 2024.

YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT JOE BIDEN HAD THE MAJORITY OF VOTES ELECTORAL VOTES NECESSARY TO BE ELECTED PRESIDENT IN 2020?

YOU KNOW, SENATOR, ALL I CAN TELL YOU AS A PROSECUTOR IS FROM MY FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE. AND I ACCEPT THE RESULTS. I EXCEPT 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. I WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE CAMPAIGN AND AND I WAS ON TE CAMPAIGN AND AND I WAS ON TG CAMPAIGN AND AND I WAS ON TO CAMPAIGN AND AND I WAS ON TN CAMPAIGN AND AND I WAS ON TD IN PENNSYLVANIA AND I SAW MANY THINGS THERE. BUT DO I ACCEPT THE RESULTS? OF COURSE I DO. DO I AGREE WITH WHAT HAPPENED? I SAW SO MUCH — NO ONE FROM EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE SHOULD WANT THERE TO BE ANY ISSUES WITH ELECTION INTEGRITY IN OUR COUNTRY. WE SHOULD ALL WANT OUR ELECTIONS TO BE FREE AND FAIR, AND THE RULES AND THE LAW TO BE FOLLOWED.

I THINK THAT QUESTION DESERVED A YES OR NO. I THINK THE LINK OF YOUR ANSWER IS AN INDICATION THAT YOU WERE NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER YES. HAVE YOU HEARD THE RECORDING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP ON JANUARY 2, 2021, WHEN HE URGED THE SUGGESTED OF GEORGIA TO QUOTE, FIND 11,780 VOTES AND DECLARE HIM THE WINNER OF THAT STATE?

NO. I’VE HEARD ABOUT THROUGH CLIPS BUT NO, I HAVE NOT HEARD IT.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP MAKING THAT CALL?

I HAVE, I WOULD HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE TAPE, SENATOR.

…

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