Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, had a viral moment on Wednesday during a cordial back-and-forth with another senator.
During her Senate confirmation hearing, Bondi was asked by Louisiana GOP Sen. John Kennedy about notable figures in prison and the importance of removing “politicization” from the Department of justice.
“Chaos, don‘t we? Chaos and the social contract is breached, isn‘t it? The name of Michael Avenatti? Was a media star here in in Washington, an attorney. Many members of our media loved him because he persistently. Bashed Donald Trump. Um, and he was on TV every day. He was on CNN more than Wolf Blitzer uh, do you know where Mr. Avenatti is today?” Kennedy asked.
“Prison, senator,” Bondi said with a smile on her face.
“Sitting in jail. He was a crook. And the Department of Justice helped put him there, didn‘t it? By the name of Sam Bankman-Fried?” Kennedy asked.
“Yes, senator,” Bondi replied.
“Boy genius. Um. So smart and so powerful that he thought he could, uh, command the tides. So smart and so powerful and so rich that he would go to meetings with serious people like Bill Clinton. Like Tony Blair, looking like a slob. Looking like a fourth runner-up to a John Belushi lookalike contest. And he thought it was cute. Where is Mr. Bankman-Fried today?” Kennedy asked.
“Jail. And I believe that‘s from the Netflix series I saw as well,” Bondi said.
Kennedy rounded out his comments by declaring, “A minority of people” at the Justice Department had “delegitimized America’s criminal justice system,” faulting specifically the decision to prosecute Trump.
Kennedy, a frequent critic of the FBI and Justice Department, said, “That kind of stupid takes a plan.”
“Politics has to be taken out of this system,” she said. “This department has been weaponized for years and years and years, and it has to stop.”Former Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz called Bondi a “stellar selection” to replace him as attorney general after he withdrew as nominee weeks ago.
In a statement on X, Gaetz said Bondi “is a stellar selection by President Trump for Attorney General.”
“Pam and I worked closely together when she was Florida’s Attorney General and I chaired Criminal Justice in the state house,” he added. “She’s a proven litigator, an inspiring leader, and a champion for all Americans. She will bring the needed reforms to DOJ.”
Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott said on X that he was “thrilled” with Bondi’s nomination.
“For 8 years I worked alongside Pam to keep Florida safe, and I’m looking forward to working with her to keep our nation safe!” Scott added.
Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville wrote: “Pam Bondi is a brilliant attorney with a long career of fighting for the Constitution. She will do a great job restoring JUSTICE at the DOJ. I look forward to the Senate QUICKLY confirming her to be our next Attorney General. No time to waste — our future is at stake.”
Missouri GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt added, on X: “Congrats to my friend @PamBondi. She’ll be an incredible Attorney General. Great choice @realDonaldTrump!”
Trump spoke highly of Bondi when he announced her nomination.
“I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families.”
He added: “Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country. She did such an incredible job, that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first Term — We saved many lives!”
