Trump’s nominee for US attorney general vows to end federal ‘weaponisation’ against Catholics

Pam Bondi declared at her Senate confirmation hearing that she would stop governmental “weaponisation” against Catholics, as well as against pro-life activists and parents concerned about school policies.

During her hearing on 15 January in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as attorney general described a former memo of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that targeted Catholics as the “ultimate weaponisation” of government, reports the Catholic News Agency (CNA).

Serving as the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States, as well as its principal federal law enforcement agency, the FBI is part of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), which the US attorney general leads. The January 2023 FBI memo detailed an investigation into what it described as “radical-traditionalist” Catholics with potential ties to “the far-right white nationalist movement”.

The domestic intelligence and security service of the United States, and its principal federal law enforcement agency, discussed an opportunity for “trip wire or source development” within parishes that offer the Latin Mass and also within Catholic online communities that the agency considered “radical-traditionalist”, notes CNA.

During the confirmation hearing, Repubulican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri asked Bondi whether she would put a stop to “abuses” like the memo, which he called an “unbelievable assault on Americans’ First Amendment rights”.

“Of course,” Bondi replied, adding: “I think what you’re talking about is the ultimate weaponisation [of government].”

When Hawley asked whether Bondi would investigate the federal agents involved, she replied that she “will personally read that memo” and have discussions about it with Kash Patel, who is Trump’s nominee to head the FBI.

Bondi added: “I would think this is something that we can all agree on, on both sides; this should not be happening in the United States of America, and [we should] work together on it.”

She also stated that the FBI’s use of the Southern Poverty Law Centre (SPLC) as a source in its investigating of potential extremist groups “will be one of the first things we will look at as well”. The FBI relied on SPLC designations of “radical-traditionalist” Catholics to draft the contentious memo, reports CNA.

Also at the hearing was Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, who referenced the targeting of “Catholics attempting to practice their faith…parents showing up to school board meetings, [and] people showing up to engage in peaceful protesting outside of abortion clinics”, the last of which has resulted in prosecutions by the current DOJ of pro-life protestors.

He then asked Bondi: “As attorney general, how will you prevent the weaponisation of the Department of Justice against Americans?” 

Bondi replied: “Senator, you just gave the classic example of what’s been happening regarding the weaponisation. Going after parents at a school board meeting has got to stop; [or] for practicing your religion; sending informants into Catholic churches – [it all] must stop.”

During his campaign to become president again, Trump criticised the FBI for its investigation of Catholics and promised to release pro-life activists imprisoned under the FACE Act, if he was re-elected.

Bondi, who became the first female attorney general of Florida, defended the incoming 47th US President during his first impeachment trial in 2020 when he was serving as the 45th US President.

President-elect Trump’s inauguration, when he will be sworn – once again – into office, will occur on Monday, 20 January.

RELATED: Trump warns of anti-religious Democrat policies: ‘They’re really after the Catholics’

Photo: Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is sworn in before testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee during her confirmation hearing to be the next US.attorney general in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, USA, 15 January 2025. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.)

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