Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, sparred with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) on Wednesday during her confirmation hearing, which generally went smoothly.
Schiff wound down his questioning by saying, “So my questions now are, can you tell hard truths to the president? So let me start with an easy truth that you could speak to the president. Can you tell us can you tell him that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election? Can you say that? Do you have the independence to say that you have the gravitas, the stature, the intestinal fortitude to say, Donald Trump, you lost the 2020 election? Can you tell us that here today?”
“Senator, what I can tell you is I will never play politics. You’re trying to engage me in a gotcha,” Bondi replied as she clearly began to lose patience.
The topic later turned toward Trump’s promise to pardon January 6th rioters. “So will it be your advice to the president? Mr. President, I know you said you want to issue hundreds of pardons on day one. 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 asked.
“Senator, I have not looked at any of those files. If confirmed, I will look at the files,” Bondi said, repeating earlier comments she made regarding how
“And will you be able to— Will you be able to review hundreds of cases on day one?” Schiff pressed.
“I will look at every file,” Bondi replied.
“Of course, you won’t,” Schiff shot back, adding, “So will you advise the president–”
Bondi jumped in, “Can I answer the question? I would have plenty of staff. You said, ‘Of course you won’t?’”
“I’m not going to mislead this body, nor you,” Bondi added.
“All right. Let me ask another question. You don’t want to answer that, let me ask another question,” Schiff continued as Bondi said:
You were censured by Congress, senator, for comments just like this! That are so reckless.
Schiff moved on saying, “It will also be important for you to be able to preserve the records, the evidence of the department. Are you ready to commit that none of the evidence in the January 6th investigation will be destroyed under your watch?”
“Senator, I will follow the law. I will consult with ethical officials in the department,” Bondi replied.
“You see any ethical basis to destroy evidence in the January 6th investigation? Then why can’t you answer the question? Why can’t you say I commit to this committee? We will never destroy the evidence in the January 6th investigation. Why can’t you give this committee and the American people that assurance?” Schiff
“Are you frightened because evidence was destroyed against President Trump that was false?” Bondi retorted.
“Why do you have difficulty answering that question?” Schiff replied.
Watch the full clip above via C-SPAN.