The hearing on the nomination of Pamela Jo Bondi to be Attorney General of the United States has rightfully received significant attention due to questions about whether her loyalty to President-elect Trump will impede her independence in making investigatory and prosecutorial decisions as Attorney General. This morning, I am testifying on the second day of Ms. Bondi’s confirmation hearing about the importance of this independence.
As I explain in my written testimony, the lawyers and law enforcement officials at the Department of Justice are critical to preventing the weaponization of the Department and preserving impartial adherence to the rule of law. For the Attorney General, this means taking seriously the oath of office, which is to the Constitution, not the President. It means recusal if her impartiality regarding any particular investigation or case could reasonably be questioned. And it means reaffirming longstanding policies limiting contacts between the Department and the White House on specific investigations and cases, in order to ensure the independence of the Department from improper political influence. The Senate should ensure that Ms. Bondi is committed to taking these steps to earn the public’s confidence.
You can stream the hearing here or here and read my testimony in full, below.