Pam Bondi has argued in courton behalf of a pro-Trump legal group that special counsel Jack Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional because he wasn’t confirmed by the Senate, despite his broad prosecutorial powers.
But on Wednesday, Trump’s pick for attorney general said under current law, special counsels “don’t need to be confirmed by the Senate.”
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) homed in on the apparent contradiction in her position during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“I will follow the law, senator,” Bondi said.
“Understood,” Coons responded. “Just getting to the clarity about the position you have advocated and what the current law is.”
Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, brought two federal criminal cases against the president-elect. The special counsel ended his pursuit of those prosecutions shortly after Trump won the 2024 election.
