Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, had a viral moment on Wednesday during a cordial back-and-forth with another senator.
During her Senate confirmation hearing, Bondi was asked by Louisiana GOP Sen. John Kennedy about notable figures in prison and the importance of removing “politicization” from the Department of justice.
“Chaos, don‘t we? Chaos and the social contract is breached, isn‘t it? The name of Michael Avenatti? Was a media star here in in Washington, an attorney. Many members of our media loved him because he persistently. Bashed Donald Trump. Um, and he was on TV every day. He was on CNN more than Wolf Blitzer uh, do you know where Mr. Avenatti is today?” Kennedy asked.
“Prison, senator,” Bondi said with a smile on her face.
“Sitting in jail. He was a crook. And the Department of Justice helped put him there, didn‘t it? By the name of Sam Bankman-Fried?” Kennedy asked.
“Yes, senator,” Bondi replied.
“Boy genius. Um. So smart and so powerful that he thought he could, uh, command the tides. So smart and so powerful and so rich that he would go to meetings with serious people like Bill Clinton. Like Tony Blair, looking like a slob.
Looking like a fourth runner-up to a John Belushi lookalike contest. And he thought it was cute. Where is Mr. Bankman-Fried today?” Kennedy asked.