“The concern is that weaponisation of the Justice Department may well occur under your tenure,” Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse told Bondi. “We want to make sure that’s not the case, that you remain independent.”
The Republican-majority Senate is evaluating a wave of cabinet picks, some controversial, ahead of Trump’s return to office on Monday. Lawmakers held a fiery hearing with Trump’s choice for defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, on Tuesday, and are due on Thursday to hear from his choice for treasury secretary, Scott Bessent.
Bondi received broad praise from Republicans, who argued she would restore the reputation of the department, which has faced an onslaught of criticism from Trump and his allies.
Bondi promised to prioritize prosecuting violent crime, gangs, child sex abusers and drug traffickers, protecting the country from terrorists and addressing “the overwhelming crisis at the border.”
“Help us restore legitimacy to the Department of Justice,” Republican Senator John Kennedy told Bondi, urging her to “find out who the bad guys are” and “get rid of them.”
