Amna Nawaz
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WATCH: Sen. Blumenthal questions Bondi if she’d defend TikTok ban if upheld
Posted
January 15, 2025
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January 15, 2025
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2:33Now PlayingSen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Ct., questioned U.S. attorney general nominee Pam Bondi in a confirmation hearing Wednesday held by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Blumenthal asked Bondi if she shared the bipartisan concerns about TikTok, a social media platform that’s been considered a potential national security risk, partly because parent company ByteDance is based in China.
Bondi declined to answer the question, saying it would be “irresponsible” for her to talk about pending litigation.
Blumenthal said it’s not pending litigation within the Justice Department and is currently going through the courts with the agency defending the constitutionality of U.S. law. Blumenthal tried rephrasing his original question.
“I'm not trying to hedge on anything, Senator. I just can't comment on anything,” she said.
Blumenthal again tried asking his question, this time, more broadly: “Will you defend laws of the United States of America against constitutional attacks?” Bondi said yes.
Blumenthal then asked his question, with respect to the law that requires divestiture of TikTok, Bondi declined to answer, again citing pending litigation.
“I have to tell you, with all due respect, that answer is unacceptable to me,” the senator said.
Bondi is a former Florida attorney general and has been a longtime ally of President-elect Donald Trump. This is the first of two hearings the committee has scheduled for the nominee.
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