Trump AG Nominee Pam Bondi Vows ‘There Will Never Be an Enemies List’ at DOJ

Sarah RumpfJan 15th, 2025, 2:05 pm
 

Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, responded to questions about Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, at her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday by saying there would “never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice” during her tenure.

Bondi, who previously served as attorney general of Florida, was grilled earlier in the day by Democratic senators over her past representation of Trump during his efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election, and the president-elect’s ongoing denial of President Joe Biden’s victory in that race.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) focused the first part of his questions to Bondi on Patel and the enemies list of “deep state” adversaries and “conspirators” Patel vowed to go after in his book and in other comments he’s made on conservative programs.

Below, a transcript of Whitehouse’s conversation with Bondi:

WHITEHOUSE: Thank you, chairman. Welcome, Ms. Bondi.

BONDI: Thank you, Senator, and thank you for meeting with me. I greatly appreciate that.

WHITEHOUSE: It was a pleasure. Ms. Bondi, you were a courtroom prosecutor for a great many years. As a courtroom prosecutor, did you ever have an enemies list?

BONDI: No, Senator.

WHITEHOUSE: And you went on to be Florida’s Attorney General. As Florida’s Attorney General, did you ever have an enemies list?

BONDI: No, Senator.

WHITEHOUSE: As Florida’s Attorney General, you were responsible for hiring into the Florida Department of Attorney General, correct?

BONDI: Senator, the Attorney General’s Office in Florida is the third largest in the [United] States. Approximately 1,400 employees and approximately 400 lawyers. Only California and Texas are bigger offices — so, yes.

WHITEHOUSE: And you were responsible for hiring into that office while you were Attorney General?

BONDI: Yes.

WHITEHOUSE: Would you have hired someone into the Florida Attorney General’s Office who you knew had an enemies list?

BONDI: Senator, to cut to the chase, you’re clearly talking about Kash Patel. I don’t believe he has an enemies list. He made a quote on TV, which I have not heard. I saw your sign, or Senator Durbin’s sign, about Kash, but I, I know that Kash Patel has had 60 jury trials as a public defender, as a prosecutor — he has great experience in the intel department, Department of Defense. I have known Kash, and I believe that Kash is the right person at this time for this job. You’ll have the ability to question Mr. Patel, and when you do —

WHITEHOUSE: — and I’m questioning you right now about whether you will enforce an enemies list that he announced publicly on television.

BONDI: Oh — Senator — I’m sorry. There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice.

WHITEHOUSE: Thank you.

Watch the clip above via CNN.

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Sarah Rumpf - Contributing Editor

Sarah Rumpf joined Mediaite in 2020 and is a Contributing Editor focusing on politics, law, and the media. A native Floridian, Sarah attended the University of Florida, graduating with a double major in Political Science and German, and earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the UF College of Law. Sarah's writing has been featured at National Review, The Daily Beast, Reason, Law&Crime, Independent Journal Review, Texas Monthly, The Capitolist, Breitbart Texas, Townhall, RedState, The Orlando Sentinel, and the Austin-American Statesman, and her political commentary has led to appearances on television, radio, and podcast programs across the globe. Follow Sarah on Threads, Twitter, and Bluesky.