California Senator Adam Schiff found himself at the center of a viral storm when a leaked video showed him seemingly dozing off during an important confirmation hearing for Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi. The clip, which made its rounds on the internet this past Wednesday, depicted Schiff with his head drooping and eyes shut while Bondi faced rigorous questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Critics swiftly seized upon this moment, branding it as yet another blunder for the senator, who has been under increased scrutiny since Congress censured him last year.
The day kicked off with a heated exchange between Bondi, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, and Schiff. As the former Florida Attorney General took questions about her stance on presidential pardons and her preparedness to lead the nation’s top law enforcement agency, she remained composed under pressure. “Will it be your advice to the President: ‘No, Mr. President. I need to go over them on a case-by-case basis. Do not issue blanket pardons.’ Will that be your advice?” Schiff pressed her hard.
Bondi responded firmly, “Senator, I have not looked at any of those files. If confirmed, I will look at the files for the pardons as well as the ongoing investigation.” Her calm demeanor stood out amidst the tense atmosphere.
LEAKED VIDEO: Senator Adam Schiff falls asleep LIVE at Pam Bondi hearing in latest humiliation for the state of California
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 15, 2025
When questioned about her ability to manage numerous cases immediately upon assuming office, Bondi didn’t hesitate: “I will look at every file I am asked to look at. I’m not going to mislead this body, nor you.” The discussion took a sharp turn when Bondi mentioned Schiff’s censure by Congress: “You were censured by Congress, Senator, for comments just like this that are so reckless!”
The hearing also saw attempts by Schiff to involve Bondi in a contentious investigation concerning former Representative Liz Cheney. He asked if Bondi had grounds to investigate Cheney over allegations of witness tampering related to her work on the January 6 Committee.
However, Bondi deftly sidestepped these attempts: “Senator, no one has asked me to investigate Liz Cheney. That is a hypothetical,” she stated before pivoting sharply towards California’s crime issues: “The crime rate in California right now is through the roof. Your robberies are 87% higher than the national average. That’s what I want to be focused on if I’m confirmed as Attorney General.”