What started as a routine confirmation hearing quickly turned into a heated exchange when Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi clashed with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who was called out by the Trump nominee for his prior censure by Congress. Schiff questioned Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General, about hypothetical cases and her approach to pardons, and the tension between them grew as the conversation progressed. The core of the conflict centered on Schiff’s inquiries regarding potential investigations and the handling of presidential pardons.
“Will it be your advice to the President: ‘No, Mr. President. I need to go over them on a case-by-case basis. Do not issue blanket pardons.’ Will that be your advice to the President?” Schiff pressed early in the hearing. Bondi replied, “Senator, I have not looked at any of those files. If confirmed, I will look at the files for the pardons as well as the ongoing investigation.”
Schiff pushed further, questioning Bondi’s ability to handle the workload. “And will you be able to review hundreds of cases on day one?” he asked. “I will look at every file I am asked to look at,” Bondi responded before adding pointedly, “I’m not going to mislead this body, nor you.” The exchange took a personal turn when Bondi then referenced Schiff’s censure by Congress over his repeated false claims that he had “evidence” of “Trump-Russia collusion” and for allegedly leaking classified information to the media when he was a member of the House Intelligence Committee. “You were censured by Congress, Senator, for comments just like this that are so reckless!” she said, which definitely struck a nerve.
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The tension escalated further when Schiff turned his attention to the investigation involving Liz Cheney. The former Wyoming Republican faces allegations of witness tampering related to her work on the January 6 Committee. A GOP-led subcommittee claimed that Cheney secretly communicated with witness Cassidy Hutchinson through encrypted apps, circumventing Hutchinson’s attorney. The panel has called on the FBI to investigate possible legal violations. Cheney has denied the allegations, describing them as false and politically motivated to shield Donald Trump. The FBI has yet to confirm whether it will act on the subcommittee’s recommendations.
Schiff asked, “I’m asking you, sitting here today, whether you are aware of a factual predicate to investigate Liz Cheney.” Before pivoting to criticize California’s crime rate, Bondi replied, “Senator, no one has asked me to investigate Liz Cheney. That is a hypothetical. The crime rate in California right now is through the roof. Your robberies are 87% higher than the national average. That’s what I want to be focused on, Senator, if I’m confirmed as Attorney General.” Watch the fiery exchange below:
