The Republican-led US Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday advanced President Donald Trumps’ Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi. The full Senate will vote on her confirmation as early as this week.
Committee Chairman Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) opened the meeting by highlighting Bondi’s experience as a prosecutor and her two terms as Florida’s Attorney General. He emphasized her focus on issues like human trafficking, opioid pill mills, and consumer protection. He also pointed out the broad support she has from law enforcement groups and other officials.
Grassley also addressed the myriad criticisms faced by Bondi—election fraud claims, concerns about her lobbying career, her loyalty to Trump, and claims of partisanship. Grassley pointed out that numerous prior presidential appointees were partisan, and that Democratic Party members made no such complaints previously.
The Senate Judiciary Committee ultimately voted 12-10 to advance Bondi’s nomination to the full senate vote. Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) voted against Bondi’s nomination.
Trump nominated Bondi in November hours after controversial former congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination to the post. Bondi previously joined Trump’s defense in his 2019 impeachment trial. In confirmation hearings earlier this month, Bondi refused to say that Trump lost the 2020 presidential election