Vermont Business Magazine Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned U.S. Attorney General Nominee Pamela Bondi on President-elect Trump’s threats against political opponents. Ms. Bondi committed to Welch that at the Department of Justice, under her leadership, “No one will be prosecuted, investigated because they are a political opponent.”
Watch the exchange between Senator Welch and Pam Bondi, President-elect Trump’s pick to be Attorney General:
Welch: “I do have some concerns, not so much about you, but what President Trump has said about a desire—on his part—to go after what he considers to be political adversaries. His own words, for instance, says that if he’s elected he’d seek to appoint a special prosecutor to go after Joe Biden. I assume you’ve had no discussion with President-elect Trump about that?”
Bondi: “Absolutely not, nor against Senator Schiff.”
Welch: “My colleague, Senator Schiff, who I think did an incredibly good job—President Trump had different views about that where he said on a number of occasions that everybody on the January 6 committee should be prosecuted for their lies and treason. No discussion about that? And Liz Cheney also, he said that she should be prosecuted for lies and treason as well.”
Bondi: “No, Senator...We have had no discussions about Liz Cheney.”
Welch: “You’ve satisfied me that this is not an agenda you have. President Trump has satisfied me that when he says things that are pretty provocative, he’s often serious. Now, Senator Cruz wants what I want and that is to have a Justice Department that is not going after people on the basis of them being political opponents. And my understanding, in listening to your answers to questions along this line, is that you have no intention—no intention of pursuing people on the basis of them being a political opponent.”
Bondi: “No one will be prosecuted, investigated because they are a political opponent. That’s what we’ve seen for the last four years in this administration. People will be prosecuted based on the facts, and the law, and fairly, Senator.”
Welch: “Alright, that’s good. I disagree about the characterization of the past four years. But we don’t have to discuss that with the assurance that the next four years there will be no effort on the part of the Justice Department to pursue political adversaries—right?”
Bondi: “Every case will be done on a case-by-case basis. No one should be prosecuted for political purposes. Absolutely not.”
Welch also discussed Vermont-focused priorities related to the justice system—including the importance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Trump Administration working with the Vermont Delegation and the Governor to identify candidates to be the U.S. Attorney for Vermont. Ms. Bondi also indicated her support for Vermont to secure a Residential Reentry Program. Vermont is one of two states in the country without a Residential Reentry Center, which Sen. Welch has advocated for in the Senate.
“We’re going to have a new U.S. Attorney in the State of Vermont. In the last Trump Administration, the Justice Department and the Trump Administration worked closely with Senator Leahy, a Democrat, and with Governor Scott, a Republican, and came up with a consensus choice. And I seek your assistance in helping make sure that we are successful in getting a very competent U.S. Attorney in Vermont, and hopefully with the cooperation of Governor Scott—a Republican, as I mentioned—and Senator Sanders and me,” stated Senator Welch.
Bondi responded: “Senator, as I discussed with you in our meeting, I look forward to working with you and cooperating with you and learning about many of the issues you have in Vermont.”
Welch: “We are one of two states that does not have a Residential Reentry Program. That is outrageous in my mind. I know you worked on the First Step Act, but our federal judges, our federal prosecutors, our federal public defenders are all in support of a Residential Reentry Program. Our state and Hawaii are the only two states without it. Our justice system and officials believe that we need it. And I seek your energetic assistance in helping us get that Residential Reentry Program.”
Bondi: “I didn’t realize you were the only two states without a reentry program. We started that when I was a prosecutor and those are so vitally important. One thing that I just learned is the Bureau of Prisons—98% of people in the Bureau of Prisons will be released. They’re not serving life sentences. So, we must do everything we can when people are in prison to rehabilitate them for when they get out. And that is why reentry is so vital. We tell people: ‘get out of prison and become a productive member of society, go get a job,’ yet people don’t know how to go find a driver’s license, they don’t know how to get to work.”
“I appreciate your help on that. Thank you very much. And I have confidence that you will do that given your history on the First Step Act and other things that you did,” said Senator Welch.
Welch also pressed Bondi on whether she would take enforcement against big health care companies that hurt consumers and taxpayers. Sen. Welch specifically referenced recent reports detailing how insurers have cheated taxpayers out of billions of dollars—including in Vermont. Ms. Bondi assured Senator Welch that, if confirmed, she would work to combat scams and protect consumers from rip-offs.
Welch: “In Vermont, there are incredible challenges for folks trying to get health care. It’s really expensive. And there was a shocking report in the Wall Street Journal about a major insurer that is ripping off taxpayers by overbilling, overprescribing on Medicare Advantage—billions of dollars. The report indicated that insurers are adding diagnoses basically to make money, not to help the patient. That insurers sent nurses to find diagnoses that doctors didn't find. That insurers got paid to cover patients who were already getting their coverage through the VA. And it adds up to billions of dollars.
“Vermonters are struggling under the weight of incredibly expensive health care. The False Claims Act Senator Grassley authored is an area where the Attorney General can protect consumers against rip-offs...I want your assurance that in addition to fighting crime—and we’re all in favor of you doing that—you’re going to be there protecting consumers and taxpayers from rip-offs,” said Senator Welch.
Bondi: “Absolutely, Senator. When I was Attorney General, we went after a pharmaceutical company—it was Medicaid fraud. I can’t remember the settlement value, it may even be ongoing, but it was a large, large number. People don’t understand that’s hurting the taxpayers, of Florida, of Vermont.”
Welch: “So, use that False Claims Act that we can thank Senator Grassley for. It’s cold out there in Vermont—we need vigorous enforcement to protect taxpayers and Vermonters from rip-off charges.”
Source: 1.15.2025. WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch
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