Originally published at National Catholic Register
President-elect Donald Trump’s presumptive nominee to serve as attorney general, Pam Bondi, at her Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday vowed to stop government “weaponization” against Catholics, pro-life activists, and concerned parents.
During her Jan. 15 hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Bondi — the former attorney general of Florida — referred to the Richmond FBI memo that targeted Catholics as the “ultimate weaponization” of government.
The January 2023 memo detailed an investigation into what it called “radical-traditionalist” Catholics and potential ties to “the far-right white nationalist movement.” It discussed an opportunity for “trip wire or source development” within parishes that offer the Latin Mass and within Catholic online communities the agency considered “radical-traditionalist.”
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, asked Bondi whether she would put a stop to “abuses” like this memo, which he called an “unbelievable assault on Americans’ First Amendment rights.”
“Of course,” Bondi said, adding: “I think what you’re talking about is the ultimate weaponization [of government].”
When Hawley asked whether Bondi would investigate the federal agents involved, she said she “will personally read that memo” and have discussions about it with Kash Patel, who is Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI.
“I would think this is something that
