Attorney General Pam Bondy’s Testimony

During a Congressional hearing on Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondy made it clear that she would not back down in her rivalry with Democrats.

She appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she faced off against ranking member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). One of the focal points was President Trump’s legal authority in deploying the Texas State Guard to Chicago, a city struggling with high crime rates, which falls under the jurisdiction of Democratic senators.

Bondy countered Durbin by asserting, “If you don’t intend to protect your citizens, President Trump will.” This statement came amid rising tensions over a weekend where protesters clashed with Chicago law enforcement, even involving incidents of vehicles ramming into police cruisers. Additionally, Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem mentioned cartel-related issues impacting immigration enforcement.

Despite the alarming rise in violence, Durbin questioned the rationale behind sending more resources to the area.

“I want you to love Chicago as much as you hate President Trump,” Bondy said in retort, asserting that the National Guard was en route to the city.

She reiterated her stance, stating, “If you don’t intend to protect your citizens, then President Trump will.”

Even prior to the recent spikes in crime, Chicago has long been known as one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. Texas Governor Greg Abbott responded to this reality, stating that he would authorize President Trump to send 400 members of the Texas State Guard to protect federal officers.

Abbott remarked, “We can either fully implement protections for federal employees or get the Texas Guard to do that.”

Bondy also pointed out the stark crime statistics, emphasizing this point further by noting that Chicago’s murder rate was five times that of New York City, with 571 murders reported last year. “If you were serious about protecting your people, you would ask this administration for help,” she challenged Durbin.

“We’re there to make America safe and Illinois safe, whether you want it or not,” she added, leaving little doubt about her position.