WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) questioned President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Attorney General of the United States, Pam Bondi, at her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation today, where he pressed her on whether she’d be able to stand up to President Trump and maintain the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) independence in the face of threats and politicization from the White House. Under questioning from Senator Coons, Bondi also confirmed that President-elect Trump would not be able to run for another term in 2028 unless the Constitution was amended to allow him to do so.

Senator Coons joined his colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee for Bondi’s confirmation hearing, where senators examined Bondi’s qualifications and experience in her bid to lead the nation’s highest law enforcement agency. He questioned Bondi about whether she would let her loyalty to Trump interfere with the DOJ’s core mission; Trump has repeatedly asked the department to investigate individuals he believes are his political opponents, and Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI – who would serve under Bondi – has a published “enemies list” of Democrats and “disloyal” Republicans whom he has made clear he plans to go after when confirmed.

A video and partial transcript of Senator Coons’ comments are available below.

WATCH HERE.

Senator Coons: A simple question of constitutional interpretation: Is President-elect Trump eligible to run for another term as President in 2028?

Bondi: No, Senator – not unless they change the Constitution.

Senator Coons: Thank you. One of the concerns I’ve raised with you is safeguarding the Department of Justice’s independence in the face of some promises on the campaign trail by then-candidate Trump that he would use the department to target his political adversaries or that he might interfere with prosecution. What would you do if your career DOJ prosecutors came to you with a case to prosecute, grounded in the facts and law, but the White House directs you to drop the case?

Bondi: Senator, if I thought that would happen, I would not be sitting here today. That will not happen – will not happen. Every case will be prosecuted based on the facts and the law that is applied in good faith, period. Politics have got to be taken out of the system. This department has been weaponized for years and years and years, and it has to stop.

Senator Coons: Thank you. Let me, if I might … refer you back to Senator [Dick] Durbin’s [D-Ill.] opening comments about previous attorneys general – our former colleague Jeff Sessions, Bill Barr – I don’t think it’s credible to say that it may never happen that the president-elect would direct an unethical or illegal act. I think both of those attorneys general found themselves crosswise with the then-president by doing things he didn’t welcome or approve of. Just answer the question for me, if you would: I know you may not expect it; I know you wouldn’t have accepted this nomination if you thought it possible – but let’s imagine that once again, President-elect Trump issues a directive or order to you or to the FBI director that is outside the boundaries of ethics or law. What will you do?

Bondi: Senator, I will never speak on a hypothetical, especially one saying that the President would do something illegal. What I can tell you is my duty, if confirmed as the Attorney General, will be to the Constitution and the United States of America, and the most important oath, part of that oath, that I will take are the last four words: “So help me God.”