On October 7, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. While the press coverage focused on the combativeness of the hearing and some retorts to Senators, human rights activists should note that the Attorney General’s responses reveal a broader threat to the rule of law. Congress must take note and stand firm in its oversight of the Justice Department’s actions.
The oversight hearing held by the U.S. Committee on the Judiciary highlighted the concerning attempts of Trump administration officials to weaponize the Department of Justice (DOJ) and suppress lawful dissent in the legal and civic space. Throughout the hearing, Bondi refused to provide any legal rationale for DOJ actions that have undermined the rule of law and human rights. Her remarks disparaged the work of judges, lawyers, jury and other judicial actors, including bar associations, court personnel, and law firms, demonstrating clear ideological bias and political interference by the Trump administration over the independent and impartial functioning of the judicial system.
Here are some important takeaways from the hearing:
- The Attorney General’s opening remarks explicitly admitted to the weaponization of the DOJ by applauding DOJ attorneys for advancing President Trump’s agenda and protecting the executive from so-called judicial overreach.
- The Attorney General failed to provide lawful justification to questions about the increased militarization of law enforcement under the guise of immigration enforcement and in complete disregard for human rights.
- When asked whether lethal U.S. strikes against boats departing from Venezuela potentially disregarded international law and standards, the Attorney General declined to disclose the legal authority under which the use of intentional lethal force was required, raising questions on legality, accountability and respect for international human rights law.
- The Attorney General used the term “narco-terrorist” referring to alleged cartel members who were arrested in Chicago as part of the administration’s recent expansion of anti-terrorism laws in domestic settings.
- On multiple occasions, the Attorney General refused to disclose reasons for firing Justice Department prosecutors who investigated the cases concerning the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and replacing them with employees more aligned with the administration’s political agenda. By skirting accountability and justifying that personnel decisions are not subject to Congressional oversight, the Attorney General has implied that career DOJ staff should act as political actors in service of the President.
- In complete disregard to the human rights and human dignity of LGBTQI+ persons, the Attorney General stated that any previous accommodations provided to transgender persons in prisons will no longer be provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
- The Attorney General also referred to judges and jury as “liberal judges and jury” in cases where rulings did not favor the Trump administration. This is especially alarming at a time when President Trump has called for impeachment of judges who ruled against his policies and government officials and has doxed judicial actors on social media, putting their personal safety and families at risk.
- The Attorney General signaled her intention to undermine the rule of law when she declined to affirm that judicial court rulings must be followed. This follows recent events of a government whistleblower disclosing that the Trump administration intended to defy court orders to not deport migrants to a third country. Following court orders is paramount to upholding the rule of law—this is a clear indication that the Trump administration intends to defy them.
The Attorney General has threatened to prosecute antifa, an anti-fascist movement without leadership or organization, as a “left-wing terrorist organization,” indicating that the Trump administration intends to abuse anti-terrorism laws against individuals exercising their right to free speech and expression.
Attorney General Bondi’s responses to the oversight questions and her tactics to deflect responses, including threats against Senators, further amplify concerns about the Trump administration’s actions and clear intention to undermine the rule of law, an essential infrastructure that ensures human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.
A judicial process and legal system free from political interference are necessary to uphold the rule of law and protect human rights.
Congress has the crucial oversight responsibility to demand accountability from government officials for their actions, directives and decisions, including actions taken by their subordinates, to ensure the executive branch respects its responsibility to be accountable, transparent, and to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.
Amnesty International USA’s response
Amnesty International USA has been monitoring the Department of Justice’s actions and identified multiple attempts to curb the judiciary and the wider legal system. Prior to the oversight hearing, Amnesty International USA raised concerns in a letter sent to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary.