Bondi dodges Democrats’ questions on weaponizing DOJ in Senate hearing

Geoff Bennett:

Attorney General Pam Bondi's appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee today underscored the deep partisan divide over the state of justice in America.

In tense exchanges, Bondi and committee members clashed repeatedly, each side accusing the other of politicizing and weaponizing the DOJ.

Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins has this report.

Lisa Desjardins:

Inside a Senate office building, a hearing that was combative from the start.

Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General:

I wish you loved Chicago as much as you hate President Trump. And, currently, the National Guard are on the way to Chicago. If you're not going to protect your citizens, President Trump will.

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL):

I have been on this committee for more than 20 years. That's the kind of testimony you expect from this administration. A simple question as to whether or not they had a legal rationale for deploying National Guard troops becomes grounds for a personal attack.

Lisa Desjardins:

Democratic senators grilled Attorney General Pam Bondi over a litany of issues, including the firing of prosecutors.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI):

Are you firing career prosecutors solely because they worked on cases like January 6 that the president doesn't like?

Lisa Desjardins:

A jet gifted to President Trump from Qatar, the January 6 pardons, deployment of the National Guard to U.S. cities. Bondi repeatedly aimed to turn the tables, attacking Democrats, trying to govern time, and over and over declining to answer their questions.

Pam Bondi:

I am not going to discuss any internal conversations with the White House with you, Chair — Ranking Member.

Lisa Desjardins:

Republicans, though, praised Bondi's focus on fighting violent crime and pointed to their own concerns about what they see as past politicization. Today, they released documents showing the FBI secretly subpoenaed and looked at phone records for eight Republican senators as part of its January 6 probe.

Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC):

Why did they ask to know who I called and what I was doing from January 4 to the 7th? Can you tell me that?

Pam Bondi:

No, Senator. And there were eight senators in total.

Lisa Desjardins:

Also including Josh Hawley of Missouri.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO):

I mean, good God in heaven, what is happening to this country? What happened under Joe Biden?

Lisa Desjardins:

Democrats raised as possible politicization the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, which happened shortly after President Trump pushed for his prosecution on social media. They asked Bondi, was she directed to prosecute him?

Pam Bondi:

I am not going to discuss any conversations I have, nor any investigations, nor intending cases.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal(D-CT):

So you are unwilling to tell this committee about conversations with the White House regarding James Comey's indictment?

Pam Bondi:

And if I may continue…

Lisa Desjardins:

The hearing ended much as it began.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA):

Was she right? Was she?

Pam Bondi:

Senator Schiff, if you worked for me, you would have been fired because you were censured by Congress for lying.

Sen. Adam Schiff:

Excuse me. No, I — you're…

Lisa Desjardins:

As California Senator Adam Schiff, a Trump rival who led an impeachment effort and whom Trump has threatened with prosecution, sparked more derision from Bondi.

Sen. Adam Schiff:

You can stipulate to all your personal attacks on the Democratic members of the committee.

Pam Bondi:

Personal attacks? You have been attacking my FBI director. You have been attacking my office. You have been attacking the border czar.

(Crosstalk)

Sen. Adam Schiff:

What we're interested in the answer to these oversight questions.

Pam Bondi:

You want your — oversight? You want your five minutes of fame attacking good people.

(Crosstalk)

Sen. Adam Schiff:

Regular order, Madam Chair, so I can ask a question.

Lisa Desjardins:

A nearly five-hour hearing with answers for Republicans and, for Democrats, a challenge to their right to ask questions about everything from the courts to the National Guard.

Pam Bondi:

You're sitting here grilling me, and they're on their way to Chicago to keep your state safe.

Sen. Richard Durbin:

Madam Attorney General, it's my job to grill you.

Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL):

And, with that, the hearing is adjourned.

Lisa Desjardins:

For the PBS "News Hour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.