Pam Bondi clashes with Senator Blumenthal over military service demands

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi entered into a heated exchange Tuesday with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., accusing him of lying about his military record after questioning him about the lobbying activities of his former law firm.

The confrontation took place during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing when Blumenthal questioned Bondi about a merger involving his former firm, Ballard Partners.

“In the merger that took place involving American Express GBT (Global Business Travel), I understand that Brian Ballard, financial backer and head of the law firm where you worked, was instrumental in lobbying the Department of Justice to drop this lawsuit. … What conversations did you have with Mr. Ballard?” asked Blumenthal.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Bondi fired back, accusing Blumenthal of lying about his military record.

“Senator Blumenthal, I can’t believe you would accuse me of impropriety when you lied about your military service. You lied – you admitted that you lied to get elected as a United States senator,” she said, speaking of the senator.

“How dare you? I’m a career prosecutor. Don’t you ever challenge my integrity,” she added. “Do not question my ability to be fair and impartial as attorney general, or anything regarding my former company, Ballard Partners.”

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Attorney General Pam Bondi and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., faced a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing Tuesday in which she accused him of lying about his military record. (Getty Images)

Blumenthal has previously said he “spoke poorly” about serving in Vietnam, saying in 2010 that some of his past remarks were inaccurate.

“A few times I explained my service poorly, and I regret it and take full responsibility,” Blumenthal said at the time. He described the remarks as “absolutely unintentional” and said the error only occurred a few times out of “hundreds” of speeches he had given.

Blumenthal said he remains proud of his service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is sworn in before a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (Jose Luis Magana / AP)

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“Unlike many of my peers, I chose to join the military and serve my country,” he said. “I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and challenge my service record.”