Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) expressed her hopes that Pam Bondi, who has been nominated by President-elect Trump to be the attorney general, will prioritize upholding the Constitution if the Senate confirms her.
Klobuchar shared her thoughts on ABC News’s “This Week” on Sunday, stating, “Pam Bondi will have a hearing where she can clearly express her views. For me, the key questions are, is this nominee competent, and will they enforce the law as required? That’s crucial.”
Addressing concerns about Bondi’s potential agenda, Klobuchar acknowledged, “Of course, I am worried if revenge becomes a part of her mission. I hope that’s not the case. What’s most important is that she wants to uphold the Constitution, which is a critical responsibility.”
Senator Klobuchar prepares to scrutinize Bondi’s background ahead of hearings
As Trump finalizes his nominations, they have been met with controversy. Former Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) was initially nominated for attorney general, but his candidacy faltered after allegations of sexual misconduct and a damaging report from the House Ethics Committee. He withdrew his nomination last week, leading to Bondi’s appointment.
Bondi, who served as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019, was a senior adviser during Trump’s first impeachment defense and currently works as an attorney for Ballard Partners, a firm led by Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard, who also chaired Trump’s 2016 campaign in Florida.
Klobuchar raised concerns, as others have, that Trump’s nominee for attorney general might transform the department into a tool for pursuing personal vendettas and advancing Trump’s interests.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Klobuchar plans to meet with Bondi one-on-one prior to the confirmation hearings. She emphasized the importance of reviewing the FBI background check and ensuring nominees are aligned with the department’s mission.
“We must ensure the integrity of the process,” she stated. “I’m concerned about all these nominees, and I’m not singling her out, especially if we don’t have agreements on completing thorough FBI background checks.”
