From PBS NewsHour.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked Attorney General Pam Bondi Tuesday about the recent indictment of James Comey that came days after President Donald Trump directly called on Bondi in a social media post to prosecute the former FBI director and other perceived political foes.
Blumenthal asked Bondi what conversations she had with Trump before the indictment, and Bondi said she wouldn’t discuss any conversations she may or may not have had with the president.
Blumenthal called Trump’s use of the Department of Justice a “weaponization,” and called for the Senate to support legislation that would reform the grand jury process, as well as implement “statutory right of action for people who are selectively or maliciously prosecuted for political reasons.”
Bondi said that Blumenthal didn’t support such reforms when former President Joe Biden did “everything to protect” his son, Hunter Biden.
The oversight hearing, focused on the Department of Justice, comes on the heels of a number of controversial decisions from the agency. That includes the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey that came days after President Donald Trump directly called on Bondi in a social media post to prosecute Comey and other perceived political foes.
Ahead of Bondi’s testimony, more than 280 former DOJ employees wrote a letter urging Congress for more oversight due to the “degradation” of oaths to the Constitution and to upholding the law under the Trump administration.
“Members in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle must provide a meaningful check on the abuses we’re witnessing,” the letter read.
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