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

The line of questioning laid bare what Democrats see as the stakes of Bondi's appointment, particularly given the pressure Trump wielded on his Justice Department during his first term to advance his personal interests, including by demanding that the then-FBI director abandon an investigation into an ally and by firing his first attorney general following his recusal from an investigation into Trump's 2016 campaign.

Heading into another term, he also called for investigations into perceived foes, including prosecutors and lawmakers who investigated him over offenses including trying to undo the 2020 election.

"I need to know that you would tell the president 'no' if you're asked to do something that's wrong, illegal or unconstitutional," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the committee's top Democrat, noting that Bondi represented Trump during the first of two Senate impeachment trials.

Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida and the first woman to hold that job, repeatedly claimed she would not play politics with the Justice Department or pursue anyone for political reasons.

"Of course not," she said when asked by Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana if she would "start with a name to prosecute and then look for a crime."

But her testimony at times echoed Trump's campaign rhetoric as she refused to denounce some of his more incendiary claims and repeatedly invoked the size of Trump's election win in November.

She also made clear her allegiance to Trump by repeatedly refusing to denounce some of his most incendiary stances, such as his claims that supporters arrested in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol were "hostages" or "patriots."

Given a chance by Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Hawaii Democrat, to reject that characterization, Bondi simply said: "I am not familiar with that statement."

Bondi also wouldn't directly answer when asked whether Trump lost in 2020 to Democrat Joe Biden, only going so far initially to say that Biden is the president.

She later said she accepted the results of the election, but she also suggested there was fraud.

"We shouldn't want there to be any issues with election integrity in our country," she said.

There is no evidence of widespread fraud that impacted the outcome of the election.

Other nominees

Meanwhile, several of Trump's other Cabinet appointments also had Senate hearings Wednesday.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio painted a dark vision of the consequences of America's “unbalanced relationship� with China, echoing Trump's anti-globalist rhetoric as he vied to be confirmed as his secretary of state.

Rubio focused much of his five-hour confirmation hearing warning that without swift and substantive policy shifts, China will remain the “biggest threat� to American prosperity in the 21st Century.

Asked about NATO, the 75-year-old security organization that Trump has repeatedly criticized, Rubio affirmed its value, calling it a “very important alliance.�

But Rubio endorsed Trump's view that some European allies should contribute more to their collective defense, adding that the U.S. must decide whether it wants “a primary defense role" or to be a "backstop� against aggression.

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

Vought faced questions at his hearing over his tenure as director of the Office and Management and Budget during Trump's first term. 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.

John Ratcliffe, Trump's pick to lead the CIA, told senators the nation's premier spy agency must do a better job of staying ahead of global threats posed by Russia, China and other adversaries.

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.

Chris Wright, Trump’s pick for energy secretary, told senators 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.

Former Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy, Trump’s pick to head the Transportation Department, promised 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.