Confirmation hearings live: Trump cabinet picks Marco Rubio and Pam Bondi face grilling from senators – BBC.com
President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks faced questioning from senators ahead of votes on their nominationsPam Bondi – who’s nominated for attorney general – told senators the justice department will never have an “enemies list”, an idea originated by Trump’s pick for Federal Bureau of Investigation head. She also swerved on questions on the result of the 2020 electionIn a separate hearing, Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, criticised the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuIn between questions, the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee announced a ceasefire has been reached in Gaza – follow those live updates hereEdited by Emily Atkinson in Washington DC and Matt Spivey in London, with Ana Faguy on Capitol HillAna FaguyReporting from Capitol HillIt’s been a hectic day here in Washington. There have been six confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill – while across town at the White House, President Biden announced a ceasefire in Gaza. If you’re just joining us or need a refresh, here’s what happened: There were also four other hearings on Capitol Hill for nominees for CIA Director, John Ratcliffe, Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, Energy Secretary, Chris Wright and Office of Management and Budget head Russell Vought. For more on this story, the BBC’s Visual Journalism team have taken a closer look at the 10 people trusted to deliver for Trump.This concludes our live coverage of today’s hearing. Thanks for joining us. Anthony ZurcherBBC North America correspondentA good portion of Pam Bondi’s confirmation hearing has been focused on the 2020 presidential election and her role as a lawyer helping Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results. But several Democratic senators have also taken aim at someone who is not under the committee’s scrutiny – yet. Both Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island referenced Kash Patel, Trump’s controversial pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation after the current director, Christopher Wray, resigned seven years into his 10-year term.Bondi said she was not familiar with some of Patel’s more controversial comments and denied that a list of current and former federal officials he included in his 2023 book “Government Gangsters” as members of the “Executive Branch Deep State” would be targeted for retribution if he became FBI director. The Department of Justice will never have an “enemies list”, she said.The line of questioning suggests that while Democrats may conclude that they won’t be able to block Bondi’s confirmation, they are preparing to mount a concerted attempt to stop Patel.Ana FaguyReporting from Capitol HillYesterday, Capitol Hill was abuzz from Pete Hegseth’s hearing.Hegseth – Trump’s appointee to be Defence Secretary – had what’s likely to be the most contentious hearing of Trump appointees. The Democrats who questioned Hegseth yesterday all mentioned that the defence nominee did not meet with any of them. Perhaps signalling Hegseth had other potential problems to worry about such as losing support of Republicans on the committee. We’ve since learned that Hegseth likely has to votes to be confirmed.What’s notable about Pam Bondi’s hearing, that’s just finished, is that she has met with most of the members on the committee – including the Democrats. Suggesting perhaps, she’s not worried about getting the necessary support to be confirmed.Senators on the Judiciary Committee have just finished questioning Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi. Several Republicans on the committee indicated their support for Bondi, asking about what they call “weaponisation” of the justice department.Democrats focused on issues such as criminal justice reform, gun violence and the legal fates of Capitol riot defendants. The confirmation hearing for Bondi is scheduled to continue again on Thursday, with witnesses coming forward to speak with lawmakers about her nomination. Senators from both parties are now probing Pam Bondi’s thoughts
on criminal justice reform. First up is Democrat Chris Coons, who notes that he’s part
of a bipartisan group who want to see some change in the system. He notes that
they are pushing for better support for prisoners and a more efficient use of
probation officers. Bondi largely agrees.“Many people deserve to go to prison, but many people are
going to get out of prison. We don’t want a revolving door, we want to do
everything we can to create productive members of society,” she says, mentioning
drug programs, mental health and halfway houses as possible solutions.Republican Mike Lee is up next and continues the theme,
bringing up “overcriminalisation” – the idea that there are too many federal criminal
laws and regulations. In the midst of the exchanges, however, the former Florida attorney general makes clear
that she is a believer in the death penalty. Bondi calls President Joe Biden’s
recent commutations of death sentences “abhorrent.”Rubio’s confirmation hearing for his nomination as secretary of state has been adjourned.There is thought to be little jeopardy to his nomination, but the hearing provided a detailed look at his positions on key foreign policy issues. There was an unexpected turn in proceedings when the chairman announced a ceasefire deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas – something that would very much come under Rubio’s purview if confirmed. Rubio said little about it, other than saying that would be “very important”. As Rubio’s hearing ends, Pam Bondi’s hearing is still in session. Stay with us as we bring you the latest.Republican Ted Cruz is using his time to question secretary
of state nominee Marco Rubio to castigate the current White House on the issue
of Israel and the war in Gaza.Cruz asks whether Rubio would support sanctions against Palestinians,
and removing sanctions against Jewish settlers in the Occupied Territories. Rubio doesn’t hesitate to agree.“I’m confident that President Trump’s administration will continue
to be perhaps the most pro-Israel administration in American history,” he tells
the committee.As a reminder, Israel and Hamas have just announced a ceasefire in Gaza, a development we are following live here.Over in Rubio’s hearing, the nominee for secretary of state has just been addressing Trump’s recent suggestions of taking back the Panama Canal. For context: The US maintained control over the canal zone until 1977, when treaties gradually ceded the land back to Panama. After a period of joint control, Panama took sole control in 1999. But the US reserved the right to use military force in defence of the canal against any threat to its neutrality.Trump has said he does not want the Panama Canal “falling into the wrong hands” and specifically cited China, which has significant interests in the waterway.”This thing with Panama and the canal is not new,” Rubio told the hearing, saying he has consistently seen people express concern about Chinese influence there. Foreign influence over the canal is a “very legitimate issue”, he says.Rubio says he has not looked into the legal situation, but adds he is “compelled to suspect that an argument could be made that terms under which that canal were turned over have been violated”.While technically sovereignty over the canal has not been turned over to a foreign power, he says, “in reality a foreign power today possesses through their companies”, warning it could be a threat to national security.Panama is a great partner on a range of other issues, he says, adding he he hopes they can “resolve this issue of the canal and of its security” and continue to work cooperatively.Ana FaguyReporting from Capitol HillMinnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, asks Pam Bondi about her commitment to a free press. Klobuchar asks if Bondi will respect the importance of a free press – “absolutely”, Bondi replies.She later says “going after the media just because they’re the media is wrong of course”. She’s asked once again about FBI nominee Kash Patel – who will report to Bondi if he’s confirmed – and how he’s spoken of going after members of the media. Bondi says she has not spoken to Patel about the issue specifically. Over at the Judiciary Committee hearing, Pam Bondi is fielding questions from Democratic Senator Dick Durbin about pardons that Donald Trump has promised to the people who
rioted at the Capitol on 6 January 2021.Trump and his team have sent mixed messages on who exactly
will get pardons – and whether they will be extended to, say, rioters who assaulted
police officers. “Violence is never acceptable when it comes to political
expression,” Durbin says. “I think you would agree, correct?”Bondi agrees, and Durbin goes on to describe the details of several violent
assaults that happened during the riot. He calls Trump’s pardon plan an “outrage”. “I do not agree with violence against anyone,” Bondi replies.
“But especially against police officers.”“I hope you will speak up on behalf of these police officers
keeping you safe today,” Durbin concludes. We’ve just heard a bit more from Marco Rubio on the ceasefire agreement that may have been reached in Gaza.Rubio says the “good news” – and not just the potential ceasefire, although he says “that’s very important” – is that there there is potentially a “dynamic shift” in the region that offers a “historic opportunity” to change the situation there regarding peace and prosperity.He says people shouldn’t underestimate the potential opportunities that now exist given changes to the situation in Lebanon, Syria and elsewhere in the region. The real open question for the Palestinians is who will govern in Gaza in the short term and who will ultimately govern, he says, adding the key is not simply the fact of governance but the question of “how”.”You can’t turn it over to people who seek your destruction,” he says. From the Israeli perspective, he says, “you cannot coexist with armed elements at your border who seek your destruction and evisceration as a state”. A little later, Rubio says there is a need to be pragmatic enough to understand what an enormous achievement it would be not just for there to be a ceasefire but if that leads to the opportunity of a Saudi-Israeli partnership and joint recognition, saying it would be “historic”.Ana FaguyReporting from Capitol HillWe’ve just heard a heated back-and-forth between California Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat, and Pam Bondi, Trump’s pick for attorney general. Padilla was trying to get Bondi to answer yes or no questions about the results of the 2020 election and Bondi refused to answer. Bondi was clearly frustrated by Padilla refusing to let Bondi say anything but yes or no. “I’m not going to be bullied,” she says at one point. Watch more in the clip below:This video can not be playedWatch: Bondi refuses to answer question on proof of fraud in 2020 electionAna FaguyReporting from Capitol HillFrom the lunchroom to the hallway, everywhere you look on Capitol Hill you can see the heightened police presence. They’re gathered outside committee hearings and everywhere else. The heightened presence is largely attributable to next week’s inauguration.They’re also here because of protestors appearing at confirmation hearings. At Pete Hegseth’s hearing yesterday, multiple protestors were removed from the audience for their disruptions, and more of that happened today at the Rubio hearing.Republican Rand Paul asks if the concept of a “neutral Ukraine, not in Nato, can be part of the negotiations to end the war” with Russia.Rubio says that will ultimately “be part of any negotiation”.He says foreign policy outcomes are rarely ideal and they “invariably require concessions”.But he says it wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss the parameters of what those potential concessions can be for either side in public or now before he is confirmed.Tom BatemanState department correspondent, reporting from Capitol HillHere in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee room
we’ve had the chance to hear the big picture world view of the man almost
certain to be confirmed as Donald Trump’s chief diplomat.Marco Rubio has tried to put the current moment in the
context of a century of history. He compares the US now to the post World War
Two moment, in which America brought a shattered world back to order.The
current crisis, he believes, is due to America allowing the world order it
built after World War Two to transform itself into a “liberal world order” in
which “all mankind was now destined to abandon national sovereignty and
national identity”. The dominance of global free markets had undercut domestic
working classes and led to mass migration which threatens global stability, he
said. Trump was elected to fix it, he suggests. This has been “America First”
in Rubio language. But he’s at pains to point out he doesn’t mean the US
turning in on itself, rather that Washington’s role is to engage with the world
but through policies designed to serve Americans first: by weakening its
adversaries and protecting its domestic industry, energy and supply chains. “Placing the interest of America and Americans above all else has never been
more relevant or more necessary,” he says. Meanwhile, he says China has risen
to unparalleled prominence, becoming the greatest threat both the United States
and world stability.We’re returning again to the questioning of Marco Rubio – the nominee for secretary of state – by the Foreign Relations Committee.Republican Senator John Barrasso asks Rubio how he can eliminate China’s “unfair advantage”. Rubio says there is a need to acknowledge that many of the global institutions have been “weaponised” against the US.The UN Security Council is an example, he says, adding that “sadly two of the greatest drivers of instability in the world today” – an apparent reference to Russia and China – hold a veto vote there. He says that has rendered the security council “almost irrelevant”.He says he is not against multilateral organisations so long as the arrangement serves the national interests of the US, and says that under no circumstances should any international organisation have veto power over those interests. The Chinese have worked hard to court and “entrap” votes at the UN General Assembly, he says.The hearing of Pam Bondi has also returned from a recess. Here’s a look back at the top lines so far:Leading on from our last post, we’ve just heard in Rubio’s confirmation hearing for his nomination as secretary of state that a ceasefire deal has been reached in Gaza. The hearing has just returned from a brief recess. Here’s what we’ve heard so far:This video can not be playedSenate Foreign Relations Chair announces ceasefire deal in hearingSome breaking news for you now.In between questions from the Foreign Relations Committee – questioning Marco Rubio – Chairman Risch says he has been advised there’s been a ceasefire deal in Gaza. “For the notification of the committee, I’ve just been advised that there’s been a ceasefire announced in Gaza,” he says. “Before we all celebrate through, obviously we’re all going to want to see how that executes,” he adds. Shortly afterwards, a source briefed on the talks tells the BBC’s Tom Bateman: “Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal reached following Qatari PM’s meeting with Hamas negotiators and separately Israeli negotiators in his office.”We’re covering developments on this story live on our website.Ana FaguyReporting from Capitol HillThis video can not be playedBondi swerves question on the winner of the 2020 electionWe just saw the most contentious moment in an otherwise calm confirmation hearing for Pam Bondi, Trump’s pick for attorney general. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat from Hawaii, went back and forth a few times with Bondi over questions of who won the 2020 election and conflicts of interest.Bondi has refused to say that Joe Biden won the 2020 election, instead saying that Biden is the current president of the United States. Hirono – unsuccessfully – tried to get Bondi to say something but the nominee doesn’t. Instead, she expresses her frustration that Hirono refused to meet with her before the hearing.The Hawaii senator says it’s “disturbing” Bondi can’t say who won. © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
