Senate Confirms Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General in Party-Line Vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as attorney general on Tuesday evening, installing a staunch ally of Donald Trump to lead the Justice Department amid ongoing turmoil over politically charged investigations.
Confirmation Vote Falls Along Party Lines
Bondi’s confirmation passed with a 54-46 vote, largely along party lines. Only Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) broke ranks to support her, joining all Republicans in backing her appointment.
As a former Florida attorney general and corporate lobbyist, Bondi is expected to oversee major shifts at the Justice Department, which has been a focal point of Trump’s grievances over investigations and prosecutions against him. She will also oversee the FBI, an agency facing internal scrutiny over cases related to Trump’s legal battles.
Bondi Promises Reform as Critics Raise Concerns
Republicans have praised Bondi as a highly qualified leader who will restore focus on crime and public safety.
“Pam Bondi has promised to get the department back to its core mission: prosecuting crime and protecting Americans,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).
However, her confirmation has been met with concern from Democrats, who worry about her close ties to Trump. Bondi has echoed Trump’s rhetoric, describing the Justice Department as “weaponized for years” and pledging to overhaul its operations.
FBI Agents Sue DOJ Over Jan. 6 Investigations
Hours before Bondi’s confirmation, FBI agents sued the Justice Department over efforts to compile a list of employees involved in the Jan. 6 prosecutions, raising fears of mass firings.
Last week, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directed the acting FBI director to provide names, titles, and office locations of agents who worked on Jan. 6 cases. Trump has called the prosecutions a “grave national injustice.”
The Justice Department has already dismissed senior FBI officials and fired prosecutors involved in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Bondi Pledges Independence, But Questions Remain
At her confirmation hearing, Bondi repeatedly denied that she would target individuals for political reasons, vowing that her loyalty would be to the public, not the president.
“If I am attorney general, I will not politicize that office,” Bondi told lawmakers. However, she also echoed Trump’s claims that he was unfairly investigated, stating, “They targeted Donald Trump. They went after him starting in 2016.”
Trump Initially Considered Matt Gaetz for the Role
Bondi’s nomination came after Trump’s first choice, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), failed to secure enough Senate support.
Bondi has been a vocal defender of Trump, frequently appearing on television to criticize Justice Department investigations. In a 2023 Fox News interview, she suggested that under a Trump administration, “bad” DOJ prosecutors would be investigated.
Special Counsel Drops Cases Against Trump
Special Counsel Jack Smith has maintained that politics did not influence his investigations and that his team gathered sufficient evidence to convict Trump at trial.
However, after Trump’s November election victory, Smith dropped charges related to Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling of classified documents, citing longstanding DOJ policy against prosecuting a sitting president.
👉 Stay informed with real-time updates and in-depth analysis at NewsLink7.com. Fact-checked news that matters. Follow us 24/7, 365 days. There are no sides, just the truth. Explore more stories and stay ahead with NewsLink7.com.