During her confirmation hearing for the position of Attorney General, nominee Pam Bondi made a statement that has raised eyebrows. The incident in question revolves around a phone call between former President Donald Trump and Georgia's top election official, Brad Raffensperger, where Trump urged Raffensperger to 'find' enough votes to alter the 2020 election results.
Senator Richard Durbin, a key figure on the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Bondi on her views regarding the controversial call. Durbin highlighted Trump's request for Raffensperger to 'find' 11,780 votes, insinuating an attempt to manipulate the election outcome.
Bondi, a former prosecutor, responded by stating that she had only heard snippets of the call and disputed Durbin's characterization of the conversation. She claimed that her understanding of the call differed from Durbin's portrayal.
However, Durbin insisted that Bondi listen to the full hour-long conversation to grasp the context accurately. The call between Trump and Raffensperger has been a focal point for federal and state prosecutors investigating potential election interference in 2020.
Notably, the Justice Department's special counsel, Jack Smith, withdrew the case related to the call following Trump's victory in the 2024 election. Additionally, the Georgia prosecutor who initiated the state case based on the call was recently disqualified due to suspected misconduct.
The controversy surrounding the phone call underscores the ongoing debate over election integrity and the boundaries of political influence on electoral processes. Bondi's response at the confirmation hearing has sparked further scrutiny and discussion among lawmakers and legal experts.
