‘SITTING IN JAIL’: Fireworks as Republican Goes Off During Pam Bondi Hearing
Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general, had a viral moment on Wednesday during her Senate confirmation hearing, following a lively exchange with Louisiana GOP Senator John Kennedy.
Kennedy asked Bondi about notable figures in prison and emphasized the importance of removing "politicization" from the Department of Justice.
“Chaos, don't we? Chaos, and the social contract is breached, isn’t it? The name of Michael Avenatti? Was a media star here in Washington, an attorney. Many members of our media loved him because he persistently bashed Donald Trump. He was on TV every day. He was on CNN more than Wolf Blitzer. Do you know where Mr. Avenatti is today?” Kennedy asked.
“Prison, senator,” Bondi replied with a smile.
Kennedy continued, asking about another prominent figure, “And Sam Bankman-Fried?”
“Yes, senator,” Bondi responded.
Kennedy proceeded with his description of Bankman-Fried: “Boy genius. So smart, so powerful that he thought he could command the tides. He thought it was cute, even when meeting serious people like Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, showing up looking like a slob. Where is Mr. Bankman-Fried today?”
“Jail. And I believe that’s from the Netflix series I saw as well,” Bondi quipped.
Kennedy concluded by criticizing a “minority of people” at the Justice Department for “delegitimizing America’s criminal justice system,” specifically pointing to the decision to prosecute Trump.
Kennedy, a frequent critic of the FBI and Justice Department, remarked, “That kind of stupid takes a plan.”
Bondi responded firmly, “Politics has to be taken out of this system. This department has been weaponized for years and years, and it has to stop.”
Former Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz praised Bondi as a “stellar selection” to replace him as attorney general after he withdrew his nomination. Gaetz expressed in a statement on X, “Pam and I worked closely together when she was Florida’s Attorney General, and I chaired Criminal Justice in the state house. She’s a proven litigator, an inspiring leader, and a champion for all Americans. She will bring the needed reforms to DOJ.”
Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott also voiced his support, saying he was “thrilled” with Bondi’s nomination. “For 8 years I worked alongside Pam to keep Florida safe, and I’m looking forward to working with her to keep our nation safe!” Scott wrote on X.
Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville called Bondi a “brilliant attorney with a long career of fighting for the Constitution.” He added, “She will do a great job restoring JUSTICE at the DOJ. I look forward to the Senate QUICKLY confirming her to be our next Attorney General. No time to waste — our future is at stake.”
Missouri GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt also congratulated Bondi, tweeting: “Congrats to my friend @PamBondi. She’ll be an incredible Attorney General. Great choice @realDonaldTrump!”
Trump himself spoke highly of Bondi when he announced her nomination, writing on Truth Social, “I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on violent criminals and made the streets safe for Florida families.”
He continued, “Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs and reduce the tragedy of fentanyl overdose deaths, which have destroyed many families across our country. She did such an incredible job that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first term — we saved many lives!”