Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi vows to end ‘weaponization’ against Catholics

Washington, DC Newsroom, January 15, 2025 / 4:15 p.m

President-elect Donald Trump’s presumptive nominee to serve as attorney general, Pam Bondi, vowed at her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday to end the government’s “weaponization” of Catholics, pro-life activists and concerned parents.

During his Jan. 15 hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Bondi — the former Florida attorney general — referred to the Richmond FBI memo targeting Catholics as the “ultimate weapon” of the government.

The January 2023 memo detailed an investigation into what it called “radical-traditionalist” Catholics and potential ties to “the far-right white nationalist movement.” It discussed a possibility of “trip wire or source development” in parishes that offer the Latin Mass and within Catholic online communities, which the agency considered “radical-traditionalist.”

Late. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, asked Bondi if she would put an end to “abuses” like this memo, which he called an “unbelievable attack on Americans’ First Amendment rights.”

“Of course,” Bondi said, adding, “I think what you’re talking about is the ultimate weaponization (by the government).”

When Hawley asked if Bondi would investigate the federal agents involved, she said she would “personally read that memo” and have discussions about it with Kash Patel, who is Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI.

“I would think that’s something we can all agree on on both sides,” Bondi added. “This shouldn’t be happening in the United States and (we should) work together on it.”

Bondi also said that the FBI’s use of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as a source for extremist groups “will be one of the first things we will look at as well.” The FBI relied on SPLC designations of “radical-traditionalist” Catholics to draft the memo.

Hawley also referred to the prosecution of pro-life protesters under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, some of whom face years in prison. Bondi pledged to ensure the Justice Department would not be used to target pro-life protesters or people of any religious faith.

Late. Mike Lee, R-Utah, asked Bondi if she wanted to stop “weaponizing the government,” such as targeting “Catholics who are trying to practice their faith, … parents who show up to school board meetings, (and) people who show up to participate in peaceful (protests) outside abortion clinics.”

“Going after parents at a school board meeting has to stop,” Bondi said, adding that investigations “to practice your religion” and “sending informants into Catholic churches” must also stop.

“It will stop — must stop,” Bondi said.

Trump will be sworn in on Monday, January 20. He has criticized the FBI for its investigation of Catholics and has vowed to release the pro-life activists jailed under the FACE Act.