California Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat, said President-elect Trump’s new attorney general, Pam Bondi, has made some “concerning” comments about investigating those who investigated Trump’s various legal battles.
Khanna joined CNN’s Jim Acosta on Monday to ask about Bondi’s comments and concerns that Trump’s attorney general is using the Justice Department to go after his enemies.
“They are concerned,” Khanna said of Bondi’s comments. “And I think she should be asked these questions at the hearing.”
All of Trump’s nominees still must be confirmed by the Senate.
Bondi served as senior counsel to Trump’s first impeachment defense team and currently serves as an attorney at Ballard Partners, a group founded in 2016 by Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard, a former Trump Victory chairman. She served as Florida Attorney General from 2011 to 2019.
Bondi is Trump’s second choice for attorney general.
Bondi appeared on Fox News in 2023 and called for an investigation into prosecutors who “weaponized” the legal system against Trump.
“The Justice Department will prosecute bad prosecutors and investigate investigators because the deep state was lurking in the shadows during President Trump’s final term,” she said. “But now they have the spotlight on them and they can all be investigated.”
She also calls Special Counsel Jack Smith and other prosecutors who prosecuted Trump “horrible” people who tried to make a name for themselves by “weaponizing our legal system.”
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was Trump’s first nominee for attorney general, but sexual harassment allegations and a House Ethics Committee report derailed his chances. He withdrew his name from nomination last week and Bondi was nominated soon after.
Khanna claimed he hoped the election results would show the American people want to “turn the page.”
“They want to focus on solving the problems of inflation, food and rent issues, safe borders and humane immigration policies,” Khanna said. “That’s why President Trump was elected.”
Other lawmakers expressed concerns about Bondi’s past comments. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Sunday she was concerned that revenge could become part of his mission, but added that she looked forward to meeting with Bondi ahead of his Senate confirmation hearing.
