'Bingo!' Dem gets Pam Bondi to promise probe into threats on judges who block Trump

Attorney General Pam Bondi attempted to limit time for Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) during her Tuesday Senate hearing after he inquired about investigations into threats against federal judges.

In the latest incident, a South Carolina judge's home burned to the ground over the weekend. Although no link has been confirmed, she recently received a number of threats after ruling against Trump.

Whitehouse said that he's repeatedly asked the U.S. Marshal Service, which handles security for judges, to acknowledge whether they're being "inhibited from investigating whether or not there is orchestration of threats against federal judges, whether under either conspiracy laws or racketeering enterprise laws or aiding and abetting laws."

"But as you know, there's the person who says the threat, and then there may very well be somebody orchestrating the threat. Behind them is the question of whether the Marshal Service is allowed to investigate the orchestration of threats?" asked Whitehouse.

"May I answer the question, Chairman Grassley? The time is expired," said Bondi to committee chair, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

Whitehouse noted that the rule is that once the question is asked, the witness can respond.

"I'm asking the chairman," Bondi said.

Ultimately, Grassley allowed her to go forward.

"Sen. Whitehouse, I would be happy to sit down with you regarding any threat to any federal judge in this country. We take threats very seriously. I will set a meeting with you, with director [Gadyaces] Serralta of the U.S. Marshals, and we will talk about any threats on federal judges," said Bondi.

Whitehouse spoke over her, asking, "Including orchestrating them?"

"Who threatened them or who orchestrated them," Bondi agreed.

"Bingo. Thank you," Whitehouse said.

What Bondi apparently agreed to is to discuss comments from President Donald Trump's staff or others on the right that could have inspired attacks or threats on the judiciary.