Congressman Neguse to Attorney General Pam Bondi: “What is happening at the Department of Justice is a disgrace.”
Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse participated in the House Judiciary Committee’s Oversight Hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Before Donald Trump appointed Bondi to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2025, she was a personal attorney for the President. Bondi also played an early and active role in spreading falsehoods about the 2020 election.
During her tenure as Attorney General, Bondi has repeatedly put her loyalty to the President above her responsibilities as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer. Under her leadership, the agency has attempted to rewrite history regarding the January 6th, 2021 attack on the Capitol and dismantled key programs meant to protect the interests of the American people.
Congressman Neguse, a former impeachment manager tasked with prosecuting President Trump during his second impeachment trial, began his questioning by playing a video clip of an individual charged with multiple crimes on January 6th who was later hired by the DOJ. He also questioned the Attorney General on the dismantling of the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team.
To view the entire exchange, click HERE.
On Attorney General Pam Bondi Hiring An Individual Charged With Offenses Connected to the January 6, 2021 Attack:
NEGUSE: Attorney General Bondi, six days ago, you posted online: “If you come for law enforcement, the Trump administration will come for you.” I want to show you just a brief video. It's about 30 seconds, and then I’ll ask you a couple of questions about it.
[JARED WISE: Hey. You guys are disgusting, man. You guys are disgusting. I'm former law enforcement. You're disgusting. You are the Nazi. You are the Gestapo. You can't see it because you're chasing your pension, right? Pension. Your retirement, right? That's what runs your life, your retirement. Shame on you. Shame on you. Shame on you. Yeah! Fuck them! Kill ‘em. Yeah!]
NEGUSE: Attorney General Bondi, that man works for you now, right?
BONDI: Who was that, Congressman?
NEGUSE: The man in that video. The one who was in the police worn bodycam footage. The one allegedly yelling “kill ‘em” at police officers on January 6th. His name is Jared Wise.
BONDI: He does work for us.
NEGUSE: He works for you at the Department of Justice?
BONDI: Yes. He does.
NEGUSE: This is an individual whom a federal grand jury indicted for two felonies and four misdemeanors related to his participation in the attack on January 6th. One of those charges was forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with police with the intent to commit another felony. This is who you choose as the chief law enforcement officer of the United States of America to hire at the Department of Justice. Someone on video yelling “kill ‘em” at police officers, right?
BONDI: I believe he was pardoned by President Trump.
NEGUSE: Oh, he was pardoned. You're right. You're right. Pardoned by President Trump for his offense. Pardoned for yelling “kill ‘em” at police officers. And yet you expect hardworking police officers across the country to believe that you take law enforcement seriously. You could imagine the reaction of so many folks across the country hearing the chief law enforcement officer of the United States refuse to even condemn what that individual, whom you've now hired, did.
On the Trump Administration Gutting Key Offices Within the Department of Justice:
NEGUSE: Let’s talk a little bit about some of the other divisions within the Department of Justice, and what's happened over the last year. You're familiar with the Public Integrity Section of the DOJ’s Criminal Division. I think it's referred to as PIN, is that right?
BONDI: Yes.
NEGUSE: Okay. Do you know which presidential administration under which the PIN was first created?
BONDI: I can tell you what administration that the weaponization was ended under.
NEGUSE: I'll reclaim my time. This wasn't a trick question.
BONDI: You don't get to reclaim your time.
NEGUSE: Madam Attorney General.
[Cross talk devolves into Attorney General Bondi yelling…]
NEGUSE: The president under which PIN was created was Gerald Ford. It was created after Watergate. I'm not asking you a question, Madam Attorney General. The administration under which it was created was Gerald Ford. When you first started as the Attorney General of the United States, there were 35 people working in that office. There are now two people working in that office because you have gutted it.
NEGUSE: How many people work for the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team in the Criminal Division today?
BONDI: Can I answer the question about PIN?
NEGUSE: I’ve asked you a question. How many people work for the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team? You won’t answer.
BONDI: I’ll answer PIN.
[Cross talk devolves into Attorney General Bondi yelling…]
NEGUSE: You know what, Madam Attorney General, I’ll say to the Chairman. Mr. Chairman, you know what the answer is. And I think I understand why the Attorney General does not want to answer the question, because [Bondi] eliminated the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team last year. So, I understand why you don't want to tell the American people who works there. No one works there anymore, Madam Attorney General.
[Cross talk devolves into Attorney General Bondi yelling…]
NEGUSE: I might as well ask the Chairman these questions because what’s profound, the questions I’ve asked, Mr. Chairman, are not trick questions. They're not gotcha questions. They're actually basic questions about how the Department of Justice functions and the unwillingness of this Attorney General to answer them in good faith. When a Member of Congress asks how many people work at the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and the Attorney General refuses to answer it, it is not a coincidence. It's because she eliminated the team. Why? Because her boss, the president of the United States, is making money hand over fist. $1.4 billion over the course of the last year through cryptocurrency holdings. I think what is happening at the Department of Justice is a disgrace, Mr. Chairman, and I would urge you to gain control of this hearing.
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