Senate Breaks Filibuster On Pam Bondi Nomination For Attorney General

On Monday, the GOP-led Senate voted to break the filibuster on President Donald Trump‘s nomination of Pam Bondi to become U.S. Attorney General.

The vote to invoke cloture on the Cabinet nominee was 52-46 along party lines. Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) reportedly did not vote.

A final confirmation vote is expected to take place in the next day or two. A simple majority will be needed for Bondi to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Bondi, a former GOP attorney general of Florida, has endured one of the more hotly-contested  nominations from Trump in his second term.

Democrats who oppose the pick have raised concerns about Bondi siding with wealthy special interests and doing Trump’s bidding for political purposes.

They have demanded records from Bondi, FBI director nominee Kash Patel, and acting leaders in response to the reassignment or removal of senior DOJ officials.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) argued there was “no doubt” Bondi is “highly qualified,” citing her work as Florida attorney general.

“If my colleagues won’t cross the aisle for this qualified nominee, they’ll show that they’re intent on opposing President Trump’s picks for purely partisan reasons,” he said.

During a confirmation hearing earlier this month before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Bondi testified about prioritizing rival of trust in the DOJ.

“I will fight every day to restore confidence and integrity to the Department of Justice and each of its components,” Bondi said. “The partisanship, the weaponization, will be gone.”

After Democrats placed a one-week hold on the nomination, which was allowed under the rules, Bondi advanced out of committee by a 12-10 along party lines.

Several other Trump nominees have been confirmed by the Senate, including Christopher Wright, who received the nod to become energy secretary on Monday.

The Senate also voted to proceed with the nomination of Russell Vought, Trump’s pick to once again serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Doug Collins, Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Veteran Affairs, may soon get a confirmation vote after cloture was invoked on his nomination last week.

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence nominee; and Robert F. Kennedy, the pick to lead HHS; and Patel face committee votes in the coming days.

Like with Bondi, if the remaining nominees advance out of committee, leadership will then be expected to move toward a final confirmation vote for each of them.