In the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday, Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney General, faced a rigorous examination from senators on both sides of the aisle. The hearing was marked by heated exchanges, particularly with California Senator Adam Schiff, but also by an unexpected moment that caught public attention — Senator Schiff sleeping during the proceedings.
The confirmation hearing for Pam Bondi was anticipated to be contentious, given her close ties to Trump and her previous role as Florida’s Attorney General. Throughout the day, Bondi navigated questions regarding her commitment to the independence of the Justice Department from White House influence. Her interactions with Democratic senators were especially charged.
Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), known for his role in Trump’s first impeachment trial, engaged in a particularly sharp exchange with Bondi. Schiff pressed her on several issues, including whether she would investigate former special counsel Jack Smith or former Representative Liz Cheney, both of whom have been targets of criticism from Trump. Bondi responded by sidestepping direct commitments, emphasizing that she would review cases based on fact and law, not political motivation. She also countered Schiff’s line of questioning by bringing up the high crime rates in California, effectively shifting the conversation away from his queries.
Midway through the hearing, a video began circulating on social media, allegedly showing Senator Schiff nodding off. This footage, which some have labeled as both embarrassing and humorous, quickly became a topic of discussion among political commentators and on various platforms. The video was described as showing Schiff with his head tilted, eyes closed, while Bondi was answering another senator’s questions, suggesting he was asleep during this critical moment of her confirmation hearing.
This incident was leveraged by critics to question Schiff’s dedication or perhaps to highlight the length and intensity of the hearing, which ran for several hours. Posts on X highlighted this moment, with some users expressing disappointment or amusement, reflecting a broader sentiment of political division and the highly charged atmosphere surrounding confirmation hearings.