In a sometimes heated exchange, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi answered questions about whether she would prosecute avowed political opponents of President-elect Donald Trump during her Senate confirmation hearing for attorney general. .

Bondi also refused to deny lies that the 2020 presidential election was "stolen." During a Jan. 15 hearing, California Sen. Alex Padilla asked Bondi if he would walk back his previous remarks about Trump winning Pennsylvania in 2020. The two argued with each other, with Padilla demanding a "yes or no" response and Bundy trying to respond. The answer is different. Ultimately, Bundy told senators she "will not be bullied."

Bondi's hearing comes on the second day of high-profile confirmation hearings for Trump's second-term nominee.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio also held a separate hearing that day. Rubio called on the United States not to rely on China for supply chains, in line with Trump's campaign promise to take a tough stance on China. Rubio also said he disagreed with President Joe Biden's announcement on January 14 to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Here's a fact check of Bundy's statement.

Bondi reiterates Trump's view that Biden's Justice Department targets political opponents

When Bondi responded to a question about whether she would prosecute Trump's political opponents, something Trump promised to do during his 2024 campaign, she claimed Biden's Justice Department had done the same thing.

"No one should be prosecuted and investigated for being a political opponent," Bondi said. "That's what we've seen over the past four years with this administration."

We believe Trump's similar claims are false.

Trump was charged twice in federal court, in Manhattan and in Fulton County, Georgia. In the Manhattan case, a jury unanimously found Trump guilty in May 2024 of all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to an alleged scheme to cover up payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. hush money. The other three cases were dropped or stayed after Trump won the 2024 election.

Legal experts tell us there is no indication that Trump was denied due process and there is no indication that Biden ordered the prosecution.

Bondi says she 'didn't listen' to Trump's calls with Georgia officials to 'find' votes in 2020 election

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin asked Bondi about Trump's Jan. 2, 2021, phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Durbin asked Bundy if he was concerned about Trump calling election officials and asking him to find enough votes to change the outcome.

Bundy responded that she "did not listen to the hour-long conversation, but it is my understanding that this was not what he asked him to do."

However, Trump asked Republican Raffensperger to do so, according to transcripts and recordings of the call.

In the call, Trump asked Georgia officials to investigate his baseless claims of 2020 election fraud. Many of his directives involve seeking to "find" enough votes to put him in the winning column. (President Joe Biden defeated Trump in Georgia by 11,779 votes.) Trump framed his request to state officials as a mission to investigate criminal wrongdoing.

"You can't make it happen, but you're making it happen," Trump said. "You know, I mean, I'm informing you, you're making it happen. So, look. That's what I want to do. "I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more vote than we needed to win the state."

Bundy falsely claims peaceful transfer of power in 2021

Durbin asked Bundy, who has repeatedly supported Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, if he was willing to say Trump lost. Bundy first dodged the question, then claimed there would be a peaceful transfer of power in 2021.

"(Biden) is officially sworn in as president of the United States," she said. "A smooth transition of power."

Her statement ignored the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, which disrupted election certification.

More than 1,500 people have been charged in federal court in connection with the riot, including obstructing law enforcement; violence with a deadly weapon; assault; disorderly conduct; and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Rioters forced their way into and breached the Capitol, attacking police and chanting "Hang Mike Pence!" Trump has promised to pardon the defendants, but it's unclear how many.

Bundy blasts Schiff over California robbery statistics

When California Sen. Adam Schiff asked Bondi if he would investigate Trump's political opponents, Bondi shot back: "You know what we should be worried about? Crime is at its peak in California right now. Your looting." Cases are 87% higher than the national average, and that’s what I want to focus on, Senator.”

Bundy was close to her assessment. FBI data shows that California's average robbery rate per 100,000 people was about 89% higher than the national rate during the 12 months of 2023.

However, California's homicide and rape rates are lower than the national average. The state is higher than the national average for aggravated assault, a Category 4 crime the FBI classifies as a violent crime.

PolitiFact chief correspondent Louis Jacobson contributed to this report.