Blumenthal Statement After Meeting with Presumptive Trump Attorney General Nominee Pam Bondi

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement today after meeting Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s presumptive nominee to serve as U.S. Attorney General.

“I continue to be troubled that President-elect Trump views the Department of Justice (DOJ) as his personal law firm—and the U.S. Attorney General as his personal lawyer. As I expressed to Pam Bondi today, the U.S. Attorney General swears an oath to uphold the Constitution as the people’s lawyer, prioritizing them—not the President—and rejecting any attempt to use the DOJ for retribution. As the former U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, I know firsthand that the DOJ’s independence is paramount to preserving and protecting the rule of law, and I will be asking Pam Bondi to confirm that she will put the Constitution and the interests of the American people front and center.

“Overall, we had a productive conversation about areas where I believe we can find common ground, such as protecting kids online and curtailing Big Tech’s power. I raised questions about her lobbying efforts on behalf of Qatar, and we exchanged views on various law enforcement topics. I look forward to discussing these issues and more at her nomination hearing.”

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