Bondi, Rubio defend Trump agendas in heated cabinet hearings

WASHINGTON - The second day of Senate confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picked wrapped up Wednesday and will resume Thursday. 

Many nominees have met with senators individually. They then went before the committees overseeing the agencies Trump wants them to run.

Pam Bondi, Justice Department

Pam Bondi, Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, sought to reassure Democratic senators Wednesday that her Justice Department would not prosecute anyone for political purposes but also refused to rule out the potential for investigations into adversaries of the Republican president-elect.

Her often-testy confirmation hearing centered on concerns that Trump would seek to use the Justice Department's law enforcement powers to exact retribution against opponents, including investigators who investigated him. Democrats pressed her on whether she could maintain the department's independence from the White House and say no to the president if asked to do something unethical, while Republicans welcomed her as a course correction for a Justice Department they believe has pursued a liberal agenda and unfairly pursued Trump through investigations resulting in two indictments.

"What would you do if your career DOJ prosecutors came to you with a case to prosecute, grounded in the facts and law, but the White House directs you to drop the case?" asked Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat.

"Senator," Bondi replied, "if I thought that would happen, I would not be sitting here today. That will not happen."

She will resume her confirmation hearing on Thursday. 

Marco Rubio, State Department

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio echoed President-elect Donald Trump’s anti-globalist rhetoric Wednesday as he vies to be confirmed as his secretary of state. Rubio focused much of his five-hour confirmation hearing warning that without a swift and substantive policy shifts, China will remain the "biggest threat" to American prosperity in the 21st Century. Unlike many of Trump’s Cabinet selections, Rubio is expected to easily win confirmation, notching support not only from Republicans but Democrats. Many expect he will be among the first of Trump’s Cabinet picks approved.

Sean Duffy, Transportation Department

Trump’s pick to head the Transportation Department promised Wednesday to scrutinize Boeing's safety issues, streamline regulations and not interfere in ongoing agency investigations into Elon Musk’s electric car company if confirmed as secretary.

RELATED: Trump's cabinet: Who he's picked so far and which positions remain open

Former Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy said at his Senate confirmation hearing that he would "restore global confidence" in Boeing, hire more air traffic controllers and create federal rules for self-driving cars instead of leaving that to the states, something Musk's Tesla has been pushing for to help speed development of the technology.

But asked how he would handle ongoing investigations into Tesla, Duffy said he would allow the department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to follow the evidence and not interfere — even in the face of political pressure to do so.

"I will let NHTSA do its investigation," said Duffy, an ardent Trump backer in his first term in office, a reality TV star and Fox News host.

Duffy, 53, is hoping to take over the Department of Transportation as the U.S. faces intense competition from other countries in electric cars and self-driving technology, in particular from China. That country came up several times during the hearing, as did Musk, the world's richest man with close ties to the president-elect who gave an estimated $250 million to Trump's presidential campaign.

John Ratcliffe, CIA

Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA told senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that the nation's premier spy agency must do a better job of staying ahead of global threats posed by Russia, China and other adversaries.

John Ratcliffe, who served as director of national intelligence during Trump's first term, told lawmakers that if confirmed, he would push the agency to do more to harness technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing while also expanding the agency's use of human intelligence collection.

"We’re not where we’re supposed to be," Ratcliffe told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Ratcliffe said he views China as America's greatest geopolitical rival, with Russia, Iran, North Korea and drug cartels, hacking gangs and terrorist organizations also posing challenges to national security.

Republicans praised Ratcliffe's experience, but Democrats and the lone independent on the panel struck a more skeptical tone, asking Ratcliffe if his loyalty to Trump would conflict with his duties to follow intelligence wherever it leads. Ratcliffe assured the lawmakers that he would put the CIA's mission first.

Chris Wright, Energy Department

Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for energy secretary, told senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that he would promote all sources of American energy, while also acknowledging the burning of fossil fuels causes climate change. 

Wright, a fossil fuel executive, has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He believes that more fossil fuel production can lift people out of poverty around the globe. His nomination went before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for a confirmation hearing. Protesters interrupted it multiple times. Wright promised to help Trump unleash energy security and prosperity.

Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget

 Russell Vought, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for White House budget director, declined Wednesday to fully commit to doling out congressionally approved funds, specifically U.S. military aid to Ukraine.

Vought faced questions at his confirmation hearing over his tenure as director of the Office and Management and Budget during Trump's first term. He stressed that he would follow the law, even as he emphasized Trump’s desire to overturn the 1974 Impoundment Control Act that requires congressional approval to rescind spending.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., accused him of withholding $214 million in military aid for Ukraine in 2019, an event that led to Trump’s first impeachment.

"I will always commit to upholding the law," said Vought, an answer that did not satisfy Peters.

As the hearings continued, Vought's answer changed somewhat when Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked if he would approve the distribution of $3.8 billion in aid for Ukraine for its ongoing war against Russia.

"I’m not going to get ahead of the policy response of the incoming administration," said Vought, who in 2021 founded the Center for Renewing America, a conservative think tank.

Blumenthal responded: "I am astonished and aghast that someone in this responsible position would, in effect, say that the president is above the law."