Lindsey Graham - Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Lindsey Graham - Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Pam Bondi, President-elect Trump's nominee for Attorney General, during her nomination hearing. Durbin focused on Bondi's stance regarding the 2020 election results and her potential conflicts of interest.
Durbin asked Bondi if she was prepared to acknowledge under oath that "Donald Trump lost the presidential contest to Joe Biden in 2020." Bondi responded by affirming that President Biden "is the President of the United States" and emphasized a "peaceful transition of power," despite events on January 6, 2021, which contradicted this claim.
Further questioning from Durbin sought clarification on whether Bondi accepted that Joe Biden had secured enough votes to be elected President. Bondi stated she accepted Biden as President but noted her observations while advocating for Trump's campaign in Pennsylvania.
Durbin also addressed Trump's call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, asking if Bondi had heard Trump urge Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes." Bondi admitted only hearing about it through clips and did not express concern over the call.
The topic of pardoning those convicted for their actions on January 6 was raised by Durbin. He asked if such individuals should be pardoned. Bondi replied she would review each case individually if confirmed but condemned violence against law enforcement officers.
Durbin probed into potential conflicts of interest arising from Bondi's role as a lobbyist with Ballard Partners. He highlighted her work for various clients and questioned why these were not listed as potential conflicts in her Senate Judiciary Questionnaire response. Bondi indicated she would consult with ethics officials if any conflicts arose.
Lastly, Durbin inquired about Bondi's past lobbying for GEO Group, a private prison company criticized for its management practices. She assured consultation with ethics officials regarding any related decisions.
Video and audio recordings of Durbin’s questioning are available online.
Alerts Sign-up