Attorney General Nominee Bondi Testifies on Prospect of Jan. 6 Pardons

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for U.S. attorney general, Pam Bondi, said on Jan. 15 that she would advise the president on possible pardons, including possible reprieve for people charged over the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

“If confirmed as attorney general of the United States, the pardons, of course, fall under the president, but if asked to look at those cases, I will look at each case and advise on a case-by-case basis, just as I did my entire career as a prosecutor,” Bondi,  former Florida attorney general, told Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Wash.) during her confirmation hearing in Washington.

Durbin had asked whether Bondi believes people who were convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers on Jan. 6 should be pardoned, and pressed her for a yes or no answer.

“Senator, I have not seen any of those files. Of course, if confirmed and if asked to advise the president, I will look at each and every file,” Bondi said. “But let me be very clear in speaking to you. I condemn any violence on a law enforcement officer in this country.”

Trump recently said he would pardon Jan. 6 defendants soon after taking office on Jan. 20. He has also indicated he would not pardon every defendant.

Vice President-elect JD Vance said over the weekend that people who protested peacefully on Jan. 6 should be pardoned, while those who committed violence on that day should not be pardoned.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) broached the pardon issue again later on Wednesday.

“If I’m a lawyer for somebody in jail, would you promise to listen to the application and read it before you made a decision?” he asked.

“Yes,” Bondi replied.

“No matter who you are? Good. That’s the way it works,” said Graham.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), during his questioning, asked Bondi if she was prepared to advise the president not to pardon people who beat police officers.

“Senator, as I said, the pardons are at the direction of the president. We will look, and we will advise. I will look at every case on a case-by-case basis, and I abhor violence to police officers,” Bondi said.

Schiff then asked if Bondi was ready to tell Trump: “Mr. President, I know you said you want to issue hundreds of pardons on day one. ... No, Mr. President, I need to go over them on a case-by-case basis. Do not issue blanket pardons.'”

“Senator, I have not looked at any of those files. If confirmed, I will look at the files,” Bondi said.

When Schiff said that Bondi would not review every file, she reiterated that she would. “I’m not going to mislead this body nor you.”