Bondi hits back at Hirono amid questions about political prosecutions: ‘Refused to meet with me’

Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, engaged in a tense exchange with Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono during her confirmation hearing Wednesday that drew praise from conservatives on social media.

“You have a president-elect who said, ‘I have the absolute right to do what I want with the Department of Justice,’ and in fact President-elect Trump considers the DOJ to be his law firm,” the Hawaii senator said. to Bondi on Wednesday. “I ask you this: If President-elect Trump asks, suggests or suggests that you, as attorney general, should investigate one of his perceived political enemies, would you do it?”

“Sen. Hirono, I wish you had met with me. If you had met with me, we could have discussed many things and reached—” Bondi began to answer.

Hirono then interrupted by saying, “I’m listening to you now, could you please answer the question?”

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Trump AG pick Pam Bondi, right, went back and forth with Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono at her confirmation hearing. (Getty Images)

“You were the only one who refused to meet with me, but what we would have discussed is that it is the State Attorney’s job,” Bondie said before being interrupted by Hirono again.

“I am very pleased to listen to your answers under oath, Miss Bondi,” Hirono said.

“So I think it’s really important to us that the attorney general is independent of the White House, and you have a president-elect who views the AG’s office as his law firm. I want to know if, if the president suggests, implies, asks that you, as attorney general, investigate one of his perceived enemies.”

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Pam Bondi (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images/File)

Bondi responded: “I certainly haven’t heard the president say that. But what I will tell you is that two-thirds of Americans have lost faith in the Department of Justice, and its statements like that, I think, are causing people to continue to lose faith .”

Conservatives on social media praised Bondi for her handling of Hirono’s questions.

“Pam Bondi CLAPS BACK,” Abigail Jackson, communications director for GOP Sen. Josh Hawley, published on X.

“Pam Bondi isn’t playing with these far-left senators,” Media Research Center published on X.

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Late. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii (Nathan Posner/File)

“Pam Bondi trashes Sen. Mazie Hirono for refusing to meet with her,” conservative commentator Paul Szypula published on X. “This was spectacular.”

“Common @PamBondi W,” Trump War Room published on X.

“Imagine Maxie Hirono is qualified to be US Senator but Pam Bondi is not qualified to be US Attorney General lol,” conservative commentator and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines published on X.

Bondi is expected to be confirmed by the Senate, and some have speculated that she will earn some votes from Democrats.