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Senate confirmation hearings commenced on Wednesday (January 15) for President-elect Donald Trump's key nominees: Pam Bondi for Attorney General, Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, and John Ratcliffe for CIA Director. Each nominee faced rigorous questioning from senators.
Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General, was questioned about her loyalty to Trump and her stance on the Department of Justice's independence. Bondi assured the Senate Judiciary Committee that she would not enforce an "enemies list" and pledged to restore integrity to the DOJ. She emphasized that the DOJ must act independently and not be politicized. Bondi also addressed concerns about her role in Trump's previous legal battles and her views on election integrity. She stated, "I will fight every day to restore confidence and integrity to the Department of Justice."
Marco Rubio, nominated for Secretary of State, appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He promised to implement Trump's "America First" foreign policy, focusing on American interests. Rubio highlighted the importance of alliances but stressed that they should involve strong and capable partners. He also addressed global issues such as NATO, China, and the Middle East, emphasizing the need for a robust U.S. foreign policy.
John Ratcliffe, nominated for CIA Director, faced questions about maintaining the agency's apolitical stance. He assured senators that the CIA would focus on collecting human intelligence and conducting covert actions without political bias. Ratcliffe emphasized the importance of providing unbiased intelligence assessments to the president and Congress.
The hearings for these nominees are part of a broader confirmation process for Trump's cabinet picks, which also includes Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary and Chris Wright for Energy Secretary. The Senate will continue to evaluate the nominees before making final decisions on their confirmations.