Blumenthal Presses Bondi on Trump Directing Justice Department to Target Political Opponents

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), today pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi about the Trump Administration's politically motivated prosecutions, including the Department of Justice's (DOJ) targeting of former FBI Director James Comey. At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Oversight of the Department of Justice," Blumenthal slammed the DOJ's chilling record of investigating and prosecuting President Trump's political opponents at his behest.

"Just so the American people understand, this issue of weaponization of justice goes to the core of the integrity of our criminal justice system. And I think we can all agree that no individual, no group should be targeted simply because they are a political opponent or because the President of the United States has some personal animosity towards them," Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal pointed to President Trump's repeated public orders for the DOJ to pursue politically motivated prosecutions, "It is a public record of his expressed instructions that certain individuals be investigated-the Attorney General of New York Letitia James, my colleague Adam Schiff, the Former Assistant Director Chris Krebs, the DHS Former Chief of Staff Miles Taylor. There is a list. And he has been transparent. In fact, five days before the indictment of James Comey, he put this post up as instructions to you. He didn't mince words. He was very open and public that you should indict James Comey and others because they are 'Guilty as hell. No more delay. Now.'"

After Bondi refused to answer Blumenthal's question about whether she personally discussed James Comey with President Trump the night before the DOJ indicted the former FBI director, Blumenthal said, "I'm going to take that as a yes because the American public is entitled to know, Madam Attorney General, whether you took instructions from President Trump after he told you very directly to indict James Comey-which is weaponization of the Department of Justice."

Blumenthal also called for the Administration and his Republican colleagues to support his legislation to protect against political prosecutions, "I want to agree with my colleague, Senator Hawley, that weaponization of our justice system must end. That's the reason that I proposed legislation, and I challenge him and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join me in legislation that would create a statutory right of action for people who are selectively or maliciously prosecuted for political reasons. It would codify your manual, the Department of Justice manual, on political prohibitions against political considerations in charging decisions and prohibit the White House from intervening, President Trump and any other President, from intervening in political, in charging decisions."

Last week, Blumenthal announced bicameral legislation to enact guardrails that would prevent the Trump Administration and future Administrations from misusing the justice system to target political opponents. A one-pager about the Preventing Political Prosecutions Act is available here.

The full transcript of Blumenthal's remarks at today's hearing can be found below, and a video of his exchange with Bondi can be found here.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Just so the American people understand, this issue of weaponization of justice goes to the core of the integrity of our criminal justice system. And I think we can all agree that no individual, no group should be targeted simply because they are a political opponent or because the President of the United States has some personal animosity towards them.

You've just said that President Trump is the most transparent President in history. Tragically and chillingly, you might be right when it comes to criminal justice-because far from ending weaponization of justice, I would submit, Madam Attorney General, that President Trump has embodied it. And we have a record. It is a public record of his expressed instructions that certain individuals be investigated-the Attorney General of New York Letitia James, my colleague Adam Schiff, the Former Assistant Director Chris Krebs, the DHS Former Chief of Staff Miles Taylor. There is a list. And he has been transparent. In fact, five days before the indictment of James Comey, he put this post up as instructions to you. He didn't mince words. He was very open and public that you should indict James Comey and others because they are "Guilty as hell. No more delay. Now." Five days before you indicted-or a grand jury at your instructions indicted James Comey.

I would like to know from you what conversations you have had with President Trump about the indictment of James Comey.

Attorney General Pam Bondi: Senator, I am not going to discuss any conversations I have or have not had with the President of the United States.

Blumenthal: Did you see that post?

Bondi: You are an attorney. You have a law degree, and you know that I'm not going to do that. I also find it fascinating, because, you know, "I will keep fighting to ensure that law enforcement and the judicial process move forward without political interference. No one is above the law. Not even the President." That is a quote from you, Senator Blumenthal, in 2017.

Blumenthal: Well, let me ask you then, when you saw that post-

Bondi: "No one is above the law." That was your quote.

Blumenthal: When you saw that post, did you talk to anybody in the White House?

Bondi: I am not going to discuss any conversations I have, nor any investigations, nor any pending cases. And if I may continue-

Blumenthal: So, you are unwilling to tell this Committee about conversations with the White House on James Comey's indictment. Let me show you a picture.

Bondi: James Comey was indicted by one of the most liberal grand juries in the United States.

Blumenthal: The night before James Comey's indictment, you had dinner with the President of the United States. Pretty intimate group.

Bondi: Actually, there were a lot of people there that night.

Blumenthal: Was James Comey discussed at that dinner?

Bondi: That's a great picture. I love that picture. That's a great picture, and there were a lot of people there that night. I think the entire Cabinet was there.

Blumenthal: Did you discuss James Comey with the President of the United States? He was sitting just to your left.

Bondi: Two seats down, yes. Two seats down. I'm not going to discuss any conversation I have had or not had with the President of the United States. The entire Cabinet was at that dinner.

Blumenthal: I'm going to take that as a yes because the American public is entitled to know, Madam Attorney General, whether you took instructions from President Trump after he told you very directly to indict James Comey-which is weaponization of the Department of Justice.

I want to agree with my colleague, Senator Hawley, that weaponization of our justice system must end. That's the reason that I proposed legislation, and I challenge him and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join me in legislation that would create a statutory right of action for people who are selectively or maliciously prosecuted for political reasons. It would codify your manual, the Department of Justice manual, on political prohibitions against political considerations in charging decisions and prohibit the White House from intervening, President Trump and any other President, from intervening in political, in charging decisions. It would make reforms to the grand jury process. You've just said this grand jury was liberal. We should reform the grand jury process to ensure the government is not abusing its power and authority. And it will require transparency and accountability reforms at DOJ so that you will, and other attorneys general, be held accountable for these kinds of decisions. Will you join me in supporting that kind of reform?

Bondi: Senator Blumenthal, I find it so interesting that you didn't bring any of this up during President Biden's Administration when he was doing everything to protect Hunter Biden, his son. And I think you just saw what Director Radcliffe just released, information-

Blumenthal: You know, this is an effort to be positive and constructive, Madam Attorney General.

Bondi: If I can finish answering the question, I'm not going to yell over you. I'm not going to get in the gutter with you. But information, information that the Biden Administration told him not to investigate Hunter Biden's involvement with Ukraine.

Blumenthal: Let me move to another topic, and I'm hoping you will review these legislative proposals and support them.

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