U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement at an oversight hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi. In his remarks, Durbin criticized the Department of Justice under President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for what he described as the politicization of federal law enforcement.
“These hearings have never been more important as President Trump turns the full force of the federal government on Chicago and other American cities. The assault on the city I am proud to represent is just one example of how President Trump and Attorney General Bondi shut down justice at the Department of Justice even before the President’s party controlling the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives shut down the government,” Durbin said.
Durbin accused Bondi of removing experienced officials from key positions within the Department of Justice. He stated, “The Attorney General has systemically weaponized our nation’s preeminent law enforcement agency to protect President Trump and his allies and attack his opponents and sadly the American people. You have purged hundreds of senior career officials since you first appeared before us. These men and women dedicated their careers to protecting the American people. As a result, the Department has lost literally thousands of years of law-enforcement expertise … You [have] disbanded the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force and the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, despite the growing threat of foreign election interference and the drastic rise in cryptocurrency crimes.”
He further claimed that Bondi had forced out a significant number of attorneys from divisions focused on civil rights, immigration judges during a period when case backlogs are high, and reduced staff in sections tasked with public integrity prosecutions. According to Durbin: “You have forced out almost 75 percent of the Civil Rights Division’s career attorneys while hate crimes are on the rise; you fired more than 100 immigration judges while the immigration case backlog is more than three million; [and] you cut the Public Integrity Section from 30 prosecutors to two while political corruption skyrockets.”
Addressing concerns about conflicts of interest due to Bondi’s background as a lobbyist, Durbin recalled: “During your confirmation hearing, I asked you about your many potential conflicts of interest as a former lobbyist, and you responded that you ‘would consult with the career ethics officials within the Department and make the appropriate decision.’ But the Trump Justice Department then removed these career ethics officials—and put in their place inexperienced political appointees beholden to the President and you. You have effectively shut down the Office of Professional Responsibility, which investigates misconduct by DOJ attorneys.”
Durbin also raised issues regarding presidential pardons related to January 6 insurrectionists: “After President Trump pardoned nearly 1,600 January 6 insurrectionists, including more than 600 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, DOJ is arguing in court that these pardons provide immunity for wholly unrelated crimes, in multiple cases. Jared Wise was filmed on January 6 encouraging his fellow rioters attacking Metropolitan Police Department officers to… ‘kill ‘em’. What happened to Mr. Wise? He was hired by you as a senior advisor.”
On another topic discussed at previous hearings—the release status of files related to Jeffrey Epstein—Durbin noted: “In February, you said the Epstein client list was, ‘sitting on my desk right now to review.’ Eight months later, you still haven’t produced these files and a credible whistleblower told my office that FBI agents were directed to flag any records in which President Trump was mentioned.”
He criticized Bondi for shutting down major task forces like OCDETF (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force) which previously targeted criminal organizations nationwide: “Attorney General Bondi shut down Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force… And you have diverted thousands FBI DEA ATF agents DOJ prosecutors from their critical missions carry out president mass deportation agenda Not surprisingly federal drug prosecutions dropped lowest level decades”
Durbin alleged that recent deployments by federal authorities targeted Democratic-led cities for political purposes rather than public safety reasons: “Instead taking common-sense steps proven help reduce crime Attorney General [Bondi] focused helping president play strongman TV He illegally deployed troops Chicago other American cities—and threatened send more The Justice Department defends dubious legal basis these deployments diverts DOJ personnel components assist efforts.”
He referenced specific incidents during raids conducted by federal agents under DOJ supervision: “One particularly chaotic raid Chicago occurred last week aided FBI ATF which supervise In middle night federal agents pulled women children beds destroyed apartments zip-tied children others detained immigrants U.S citizens alike hours vans”
Durbin recounted testimony from witnesses about agent conduct during such operations: “When one witness complained agent laughed her said ‘F them kids’ On Friday federal judge appointed president held deploying National Guard Portland illegal White House Deputy Chief Staff Stephen Miller accused her ‘legal insurrection’ At time rising threats federal judges this is inexcusable.”
He closed by emphasizing unity among Americans regardless political affiliation: “Chicago not enemy Our fellow Americans not enemy It abhorrent president supposed represent all Americans regardless political party describe anyone disagrees him manner.”
Responding Republican claims about prior administrations misusing DOJ power Durbin contrasted actions current administration past ones stating: “To my Republican colleagues who claim previous Administration weaponized DOJ President Biden retained President Trump’s FBI Director Christoper Wray who President Trump then fired… What has taken place since January 20 2025 would make even President Nixon recoil.”
Concluding his statement Durbin said: “This is your legacy Attorney General Bondi In eight short months you fundamentally transformed Justice Department left enormous stain American history It will take decades recover”
Video footage audio recordings additional resources related hearing were made available following session.
