During a recent confirmation hearing, Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi engaged in a discussion with Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla regarding the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship.
Padilla questioned Bondi about her understanding of the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to individuals born on US soil. He expressed dissatisfaction with what he perceived as a lack of a direct response from Bondi during their private meeting prior to the public hearing.
Bondi acknowledged the significance of the 14th Amendment in relation to birthright citizenship, stating, “The 14th Amendment, we all know, addresses birthright citizenship.” Despite Padilla's insistence on her prior research on the topic, Bondi clarified that she had focused her preparation on the hearing itself.
Padilla emphasized Bondi's commitment to upholding the Constitution and inquired about her stance on birthright citizenship as a legal principle. Bondi responded by expressing her willingness to study the issue further and expressed interest in meeting with Padilla to discuss birthright citizenship in more detail.
The exchange between Bondi and Padilla highlighted the complex legal and constitutional issues surrounding birthright citizenship and the responsibilities of public officials to uphold the principles enshrined in the Constitution.
