Pamela Bondi stonewalls Democrats at DOJ oversight hearing

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Pamela Bondi repeatedly declined to answer questions from Democratic senators during a Senate oversight hearing Tuesday on some of the largest controversies involving the Justice Department.

The close ally of President Donald Trump often took a combative attitude with Democratic senators when pressed on those topics, including the firing of career Justice Department officials, the indictment of former FBI Director James B. Comey, the legal authority for strikes targeting boats in the open ocean and a past allegation that the administration’s border czar reportedly took $50,000 in cash during an FBI sting last year.

Many times throughout the hourslong Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Bondi simply declined to answer questions, sought to change the subject and leaned into unrelated personal jabs at the senators.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., brought up a Trump social media post that demanded the prosecution of Comey and other political foes, including panel member Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif. Blumenthal asked if Bondi has had conversations with Trump about the Comey indictment, which came days after Trump made the post.

“I am not going to discuss any conversations I have or have not had with the president of the United States,” Bondi responded.

A similar scene played out when Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked if Bondi had been consulted by the White House before the deployment of national guard troops to American cities.

Bondi quickly responded that she was not going to discuss any internal conversations with the White House. When pressed further about the rationale for the deployment of national guard troops, Bondi abruptly sought to change the topic and told Durbin he voted to shut down the government.

“I wish you loved Chicago as much as you hate President Trump,” she said.

“That’s the kind of testimony you expect from this administration,” Durbin responded. “A simple question as to whether or not they had a legal rationale for deploying national guard troops becomes grounds for personal attack. I think it’s a legitimate question. It’s my responsibility. She refuses to answer.”

In another exchange, Bondi declined to answer a question about the firing of an experienced national security prosecutor in Virginia, who said he was terminated immediately without cause.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., asked about the department’s analysis on the legality of military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea, raising concerns that it could in turn jeopardize safety of U.S. sailors such as those conducting freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea.

“I am not going to discuss any legal advice that my department may or may not have given or issued at the direction of the president on this matter,” Bondi said.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., brought up an MSNBC report that the administration’s border czar, Tom Homan, allegedly accepted $50,000 in cash during an FBI sting last year.

He asked what happened to the $50,000 Homan allegedly received and if the FBI got the money back. Bondi responded that authorities found no credible evidence of wrongdoing, and Whitehouse said that wasn’t the question he asked.

“Sen. Whitehouse, you’re welcome to talk to the FBI,” Bondi said.

“They report to you. Can’t you answer this question?” Whitehouse responded.

“Sen. Whitehouse, you’re welcome to discuss this with Director Patel,” Bondi said.

Picking up on the trend, Schiff used his questioning time near the end of the hearing to list the topics the attorney general refused to answer or responded to with unrelated attacks.

“This is supposed to be an oversight hearing in which members of Congress can get serious answers to serious questions about the cover up of corruption, about the prosecution of the president’s enemies,” Schiff said.

As Schiff continued speaking, Bondi repeatedly tried to cut in. “I think you owe the president an apology,” Bondi said. “Clearly you’re a failed lawyer,” she said.

Democrats for months have castigated Bondi’s leadership as attorney general. Under Bondi’s tenure, they argue the Justice Department has been weaponized and used as a vehicle to exact retribution against Trump’s enemies, all while talented career officials have left or been forced out.

Republicans have defended her leadership, saying she’s restored a focus on fighting violent crime. During the hearing, GOP senators sought to turn attention away from the controversies and underscore revelations this week from the office of Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa.

Federal investigators collected and analyzed call records from the personal cell phones of eight senators and one representative as part of an investigation that formed the basis of a former special counsel’s electors case against Trump, according to a press release.

Three of those senators are members of the current Senate Judiciary Committee — Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

Bondi said the investigation referenced by Grassley was an “unconstitutional, undemocratic abuse of power.”

“This is the kind of conduct that shattered the American people’s faith in our government,” Bondi said.