Trump AG Nominee Pam Bondi Clashes with Adam Schiff During Confirmation Hearing

Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General and President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department, engaged in a heated exchange with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

Schiff pressed Bondi on whether she would oppose certain pardons Trump has signaled interest in granting, specifically those involving individuals convicted of minor offenses tied to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

“Will it be your advice to the President: ‘No, Mr. President. I need to go over them on a case-by-case basis. Do not issue blanket pardons.’ Will that be your advice to the President?” Schiff questioned.

Bondi responded, “Senator, I have not looked at any of those files. If confirmed, I will look at the files for the pardons as well as the ongoing investigation.”

Schiff then challenged her ability to manage the workload effectively. “And will you be able to review hundreds of cases on day one?” he asked.

“I will look at every file I am asked to look at,” Bondi assured him. But as Schiff suggested she wouldn't have the time to do so, Bondi hit back, highlighting his own history.

“You were censured by Congress, Senator, for comments just like this that are so reckless!” she shot back as Schiff attempted to talk over her.

The confrontation intensified when Schiff raised concerns about an alleged investigation into former Wyoming Republican and Jan. 6 Committee co-chair Liz Cheney.

A Republican-led subcommittee recently accused Cheney of secretly communicating with witness Cassidy Hutchinson via encrypted messaging apps, allegedly bypassing Hutchinson’s attorney. The subcommittee has urged the FBI to investigate potential legal violations.

Cheney has denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated and aimed at protecting Donald Trump. The FBI has not yet indicated whether it will act on the subcommittee’s request.

Schiff asked, “I’m asking you, sitting here today, whether you are aware of a factual predicate to investigate Liz Cheney.”

Rather than engage directly, Bondi shifted the focus to crime in Schiff’s home state. “Senator, no one has asked me to investigate Liz Cheney. That is a hypothetical. The crime rate in California right now is through the roof. Your robberies are 87% higher than the national average. That’s what I want to be focused on, Senator, if I’m confirmed as Attorney General.”

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If her recent statements are any indication, Bondi could also play a key role in pushing for the long-awaited public disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein’s client list. In a recent interview with Fox News, she voiced concerns over the DOJ’s handling of the matter, suggesting the list should be made public.

Additionally, in September, Trump stated he would have “no problem” releasing more official documents related to Epstein, including his “client list.”

Epstein’s connections extended to influential figures whose exposure could shake the political establishment. In 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, Epstein died in his prison cell under controversial circumstances.