Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Lawyer Basic, delivered her opening assertion earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bondi, who beforehand served as Florida’s Lawyer Basic from 2011 to 2019, emphasised her dedication to restoring integrity and ending partisanship throughout the Division of Justice (DOJ).
Transcript:
“Thanks all. From the second I interned on the State Lawyer’s Workplace in Tampa, Florida, all I wished to do was be a prosecutor. The Supreme Court docket licensed me, and I had 4 jury trials whereas nonetheless in legislation college.
I misplaced most of them, however I had 4 jury trials and by no means wished to do anything. I continued my profession there, making an attempt the whole lot from DUIs, home violence instances, capital homicide instances—the entire gamut.
I grew to become a lead trial lawyer within the courtroom on daily basis, making an attempt profession criminals. I used to be Deputy Chief of a division and in the end grew to become Felony Bureau Chief. Finally, I left to develop into Florida’s thirty seventh Lawyer Basic.
Nothing has impacted my profession greater than my expertise as a state prosecutor. I obtained to know—and nonetheless communicate with—many victims and their households from once I was a prosecutor. Upon changing into Lawyer Basic in 2011, I served for 2 phrases.
I used to be term-limited and would in all probability nonetheless be there proper now had I not been. I beloved being Lawyer Basic. I did my greatest to maintain Florida secure, get up for victims of crime, and combat the opioid and drug crises that affected not solely Florida however your complete nation.
Out of the highest 100 oxycodone dispensers in your complete nation, I consider 90 or 98 of them had been in Florida.
We fought for robust laws—children had been dropping useless on daily basis. After that laws, none of these opioid-dealing docs practiced in Florida.
We fought to eradicate human trafficking by elevating consciousness and prevention, speaking to oldsters and kids. We additionally offered essential assets, together with secure homes that my state was missing.
On the civil facet, we labored to guard customers. We tackled the whole lot, together with off-label prescription advertising and marketing, which impacts many individuals who can’t afford prescriptions.
We partnered with State Attorneys Basic from each events and federal businesses throughout administrations. We went after value gougers throughout hurricanes.
If confirmed as the following Lawyer Basic of the USA, my overriding goal can be to return the Division of Justice to its core mission: holding Individuals secure and vigorously prosecuting criminals. That features specializing in gangs, medication, terrorists, cartels, our border, and our international adversaries.
That’s what the American folks count on and deserve from the Division of Justice. If confirmed, I’ll do the whole lot in my energy to make America secure once more. Making America secure once more additionally requires lowering recidivism.
We should repair the Bureau of Prisons, which has suffered from years of mismanagement, lack of funding, and low morale.
I used to be proud to assist President Trump’s First Step Act. I consider extra may be applied and accomplished on that entrance.
President Trump’s management on prison justice reform has demonstrated what is feasible when a president is unafraid to deal with tough points.
We should attain throughout the aisle to seek out options to those issues. Just like the President, I consider we’re on the cusp of a brand new golden age the place the Division of Justice can and can do higher.
Lastly, and most significantly, if confirmed, I’ll combat on daily basis to revive confidence and integrity to the Division of Justice and every of its parts.
The partisanship and weaponization can be gone. America may have one tier of justice for all.
In all this work, I’ll collaborate intently with this committee. I’ll work with all of you, as I’ve dedicated to do once I met with nearly all of you.
I’ll accomplice not solely with federal businesses but additionally with state and native officers all through our nice nation.
I look ahead to answering your questions at this time and dealing collectively for this nation and our Structure. Thanks, senators.”
