On Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas issued the oath of office to Pam Bondi to become Attorney General of the United States. Bondi, who has been described as "a relentless advocate for the rule of law," is expected to bring about a radical reshaping of the DOJ – and her new boss explained Thursday morning some of his expectations.
Speaking at a pair of events in Washington surrounding the National Prayer Breakfast, President Trump said a task force headed by Bondi would be directed to "immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ …."
Trump said Bondi would also work to "fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide."
Welcome reform on horizon
Kelly Shackelford – president, CEO, and chief counsel of First Liberty Institute – tells AFN Bondi has spent her career fighting to defend individuals' God-given rights and has an exceptional record when it comes to defending religious liberty.
"She's been really consistent," says Shackelford. "Even back when she was the attorney general in Florida, she drafted a constitutional amendment to add more religious freedom in their constitution. So, she's been a real warrior for religious freedom – and it's a wonderful thing to have somebody like that as the Attorney General of the United States."
Shackelford predicts Bondi will put a stop to all lawfare that was waged against Trump and other conservatives by the last administration.
"People in the Department of Justice are supposed to follow the rule of law. They're supposed to be neutral, not partisan," he explains. "And anybody who abused their office by not following the law and instead tried to push their own partisan interests, we don't want anybody like that in office. I know General Bondi and the people she will appoint will definitely be in that position."
Under the Biden administration, the justice system was being politicized and abused, says the First Liberty leader. "It was 'justice for one, but not another' depending upon their political ideology. That's out now, and that's a great thing for a country."
'Massive cleanup' on DOJ's aisle
Gary Bauer of American Values is also among those applauding the confirmation of Bondi.
"I expect the new attorney general to do a massive cleanup at the Justice Department," says Bauer. "I hope that that department can regain the trust of the American people, just like I hope the FBI can, the Department of Homeland Security can, the [Central Intelligence Agency] can."
Pointing to the transition away from DOJ abuses under Biden back to Trump, Bauer says this has brought what he describes as "new joy and happiness."
"Having a front row seat as I do here in Washington, DC, this is like watching a never-ending great movie or reading a book that you love and there's never a last chapter," he describes. "The bureaucracy is being told … America doesn't work for them, they work for America."
Bauer acknowledges that the transition will be loud, controversial, and painful, but argues "that's what real reform looks like."
Among the first to experience that "pain" are Illinois and its largest city, Chicago. The DOJ this morning filed a lawsuit against those two entities for allegedly interfering with federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuit comes just one day after Bondi signed a directive to limit funding to sanctuary cities or jurisdictions that limit or forbid state and local law enforcement cooperation federal immigration officials.
