'How dare you!' Pam Bondi erupts under grilling from Dem senator

Attorney General Pam Bondi erupted during a Senate hearing Tuesday after Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) pressed her on the Justice Department’s decision to drop an antitrust suit following lobbying by a firm where she once worked.

In July, the DOJ dropped the antitrust suit filed under the Biden administration against American Express Global Business Travel, which sought to merge with another travel management company, CWT. The merger was heavily lobbied for by Ballard Partners, a Florida-based lobbying firm where Bondi worked prior to her appointment as United States attorney general.

And it was this connection Bondi held to the antitrust case, Blumenthal noted, that led him to press Bondi for answers.

“In the merger that took place involving American Express GBT, I understand that Brian Ballard – longtime backer and head of the law firm where you worked – was instrumental in lobbying the Justice Department to drop that lawsuit,” Blumenthal said. “It was dismissed, so it's not subject to a court review. What conversations did you have with Mr. Ballard?

Bondi immediately took issue with Blumenthal’s line of questioning, and erupted at the senator with accusations of dishonesty on his own part.

“Sen. Blumenthal, I cannot believe that you would accuse me of impropriety when you lied about your military service!” Bondi said, referencing his past claim suggesting he had served in Vietnam. Blumenthal did serve in the Marine Reserve during the Vietnam War, but did not leave the United States.

“You lied, you admitted you lied to be elected a U.S. senator! You lied! How dare you! I am a career prosecutor, don't you ever challenge my integrity! I have abided by every ethics standard, do not question my ability to be fair and impartial as attorney general.”