WASHINGTON — Does it bother you that the person likely to become the next U.S. Attorney General has doubts about the 2020 election results?
Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, questioned Pam Bondi, who was nominated by Donald Trump to be Attorney General, during her confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Durbin asked her under oath if she would acknowledge that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Bondi avoided a clear answer. She stated that Biden was “duly sworn in” and is the President, but didn’t directly confirm that Trump lost the election.
Durbin pushed back, pointing out that her answer seemed like an attempt to avoid acknowledging Biden’s victory. He then asked her about a famous phone call Trump made to Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, in which Trump asked him to “find” enough votes to change the election results in Georgia. Bondi said she had only heard “clips” of the call, not the entire recording.
Durbin asked Bondi if she was concerned about Trump asking a state official to change the election outcome. Bondi did not express concern and avoided giving a clear response.
Durbin also questioned Bondi about Trump’s desire to pardon those convicted of violent actions during the January 6th Capitol attack. Bondi responded that if she were confirmed and asked to advise the president, she would review each case individually but strongly condemned any violence against law enforcement.
Durbin was trying to get Bondi on record about her stance on election denialism and whether she accepts Biden’s win. However, Bondi’s responses left some room for doubt, which could appeal to Trump’s supporters who continue to question the 2020 election results.
Although Bondi has the legal qualifications for the role, having served as Florida’s Attorney General, her confirmation seems likely to pass due to strong support from Republicans. Durbin, however, will likely vote against her nomination.
This hearing highlights the ongoing tension surrounding election denialism, with some refusing to accept the result of the 2020 election despite multiple investigations showing no evidence that the outcome was wrong.
