Pam Bondi was confirmed as the Attorney General of the United States in a 54-46 Senate vote and was officially sworn in earlier today. Bondi, a former Florida Attorney General, was widely expected to secure the position following her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she received bipartisan acknowledgment for her legal experience. CNN’s chief legal analyst, Elie Honig, described her as one of the most qualified individuals to hold the position in the past 50 years.
Following her confirmation, Bondi moved swiftly to implement key priorities within the Department of Justice. Her initial actions included cutting funding to sanctuary cities, launching investigations into legal cases targeting former President Donald Trump, reauthorizing the use of the federal death penalty, and enhancing coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to counter drug cartels. She also issued a directive outlining internal disciplinary measures for DOJ employees who do not align with these enforcement objectives.
In a memo obtained by Fox News, Bondi outlined the Justice Department’s commitment to “zealous advocacy” in both criminal prosecutions and legal defenses of presidential policies. The memo emphasized that DOJ attorneys must enforce the laws passed by Congress and defend executive branch actions against legal challenges, regardless of personal political beliefs.
“The discretion afforded Justice Department attorneys with respect to those responsibilities does not include latitude to substitute their personal political views or judgments for those that prevailed in the election,” the memo stated.
“When Justice Department attorneys refuse to faithfully carry out their role by, for example, refusing to advance good-faith arguments or declining to sign briefs, it undermines the constitutional order and deprives the President of the benefit of his lawyers,” the directive continued.
Bondi also clarified that any DOJ attorney who refuses to sign a legal brief declines to advance good-faith legal arguments in defense of the Trump administration, or otherwise delays or obstructs the DOJ’s mission will face disciplinary action, including possible termination.
JUST IN: US Attorney General Pam Bondi to order an investigation into legal cases that targeted President Trump.
These include cases brought by former special counsel Jack Smith and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. pic.twitter.com/r1zH1H7JLE
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 5, 2025
A working group within the Justice Department will begin reviewing prosecutions involving former Special Counsel Jack Smith, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, each of whom has pursued legal actions against Trump. The DOJ will examine these cases to determine whether they were pursued with political bias or legal merit.
Additionally, Bondi’s directive includes the lifting of the federal execution moratorium, allowing federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in cases involving violent drug trafficking crimes and other capital offenses. Her office emphasized that these measures aim to restore law and order and ensure swift prosecution of serious crimes.
On the issue of drug cartels, Bondi directed the Justice Department to prioritize dismantling transnational criminal organizations through enhanced coordination with DHS. Her approach includes restructuring federal law enforcement resources to focus on high-level cartel leadership rather than low-level offenders. The Justice Department is expected to temporarily suspend certain bureaucratic procedures to expedite prosecutions and arrests for individuals accused of capital crimes, terrorism, or cartel-related offenses.
The confirmation of Pam Bondi wasn’t about qualifications—it was about politics. Only one Democrat, Fetterman, voted for her. Despicable. She’s eminently qualified, proving this is all about politics with Democrats right now. pic.twitter.com/Mfa9cBNddq
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) February 5, 2025
As the Justice Department moves forward under Bondi’s leadership, the agency is expected to continue focusing on border security, violent crime, and prosecutorial priorities aligned with the administration’s law-and-order agenda.
