Controversial Comments at CPAC

During a recent appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington, D.C., Attorney General Pam Bondi made headlines with her outspoken remarks regarding anti-Israel student protesters. Bondi, who took office as the nation’s 87th attorney general on February 5, stated that students participating in these protests while on visas should face immediate expulsion from the United States.

“All of our students deserve to be safe,” Bondi asserted while sharing the stage with Republican Senator Ted Cruz and radio show host Ben Ferguson. “First of all, these students who are here on visas, who are threatening our American students, need to be kicked out of this country.” Cruz echoed her sentiment, responding with an enthusiastic “Amen.”

Criticism of Anti-Israel Protests

In her remarks, Bondi denounced the anti-Israel protests that have taken place across college campuses in the United States, characterizing them as anything but peaceful. “When I was just a citizen, before I had this job, I’m watching these — but these aren’t peaceful protests. We all believe in peaceful protest. Oh, I’m sorry, unless you’re a liberal, and you don’t want a parent to quietly pray outside an abortion clinic, or you’re a Catholic, or a parent at a school board, they’re going to call you a domestic terrorist,” she stated, emphasizing her belief that the protests have often turned violent.

Bondi’s comments come in the wake of widespread protests that followed the outbreak of war in Israel on October 7, 2023, when the terrorist organization Hamas launched an attack. Anti-Israel protesters, alongside incidents of antisemitism, have raised concerns about campus safety, particularly for Jewish students who reported feeling unsafe in their academic environments.

Columbia University in New York saw significant unrest as demonstrators took over Hamilton Hall, while other prestigious institutions like UCLA, Harvard, and Yale grappled with escalating protests demanding divestment from Israel. Jewish students have voiced their fears during this turbulent time, leading some universities to caution them about remaining on campus.

The Current Landscape of Antisemitism

In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, antisemitic sentiments surged on college campuses across the country. Bondi described a climate where Jewish students felt it was “open season for Jews on our campuses.” Reports of menacing graffiti and increasingly hostile protests further compounded their fears. In situations where tensions escalated, Jewish students at certain schools, such as Columbia, were advised to leave for their own safety.

Concerns About the Department of Justice

Amidst the turmoil, Bondi also reflected on her early experiences as attorney general. She expressed her concern regarding the politicization of the Department of Justice (DOJ) during the Biden administration. “What concerned me the most? It’s the volume of how bad it was, and it still is. We’re working on it. It’s day by day by day, but we’ve got a team of great people,” she explained.

On her first day in office, Bondi signed 14 executive orders aimed at dismantling the perceived weaponization of the justice system. “Number one is the weaponization ends. And it ends now. And that’s what we do,” she affirmed, indicating a strong commitment to restore the DOJ’s integrity.

Bondi’s Leadership at the DOJ

Despite the challenges she has encountered, Bondi expressed optimism about the DOJ’s future. She noted that many DOJ employees had expressed gratitude for her leadership, asserting that most are dedicated professionals motivated by a desire to combat crime. “The majority of the people are great people, who went to law school, became prosecutors, became law enforcement agents to fight crime,” Bondi remarked, emphasizing her belief in the department’s core mission.