California Senators demand DOJ probe, seek answers if Pam Bondi secretly helping her brother win massive cases citing lack of independence
Florida – Two Democratic lawmakers have urged the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate what they see as a suspicious string of legal successes for clients represented by Brad Bondi, the brother of Attorney General Pam Bondi from Florida.
In a letter sent on Wednesday, Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Dave Min, both from California, raised questions about whether Pam Bondi stepped aside properly or meddled in cases linked to her sibling.
They pointed to a “troubling pattern” that might show flaws in how the department handles internal checks.
“We are concerned that DOJ officials, including the Attorney General, may have failed to ensure the independence of internal accountability mechanisms,” the senators wrote.
“Considering these circumstances and potentially serious implications for the impartial administration of justice, we respectfully request that the Office of the Inspector General conduct a review into whether Attorney General Bondi adequately recused herself from any involvement in these public and confidential matters, and whether the appropriate ethics safeguards… and DOJ Justice Manual were implemented and respected,” concluded the lawmakers.
Brad Bondi works as a defense attorney at Paul Hastings, a prominent law firm. Since his sister became attorney general, he has notched several wins in Justice Department matters. The Democrats highlighted a LinkedIn update where Brad touted his “remarkable victories” from 2025.
One standout case involved Carolina Amesty, a former Florida lawmaker charged with stealing government funds tied to COVID relief. Federal prosecutors dropped the two theft counts after Brad stepped in. Amesty had denied the allegations.
Soon after, the department pulled back on another client of Brad’s: Sid Chakraverty, a real estate developer facing wire fraud charges in Missouri. Prosecutors dismissed the felony case without much explanation.
Chakraverty also claimed innocence. The Justice Department insisted to reporters that Pam Bondi played no part in these decisions, stressing that everything went through standard procedures.
The latest development involves an SEC matter. Brad Bondi is helping Alexander Mehr negotiate a deal in a civil fraud lawsuit filed last September. Regulators accused Mehr and a partner of running a Ponzi-like operation that tricked investors out of over $112 million.
The scheme promised to revive bankrupt stores like Pier 1 Imports and RadioShack as online giants, but allegedly funneled more than $16 million to personal expenses. The case paused in October due to a government shutdown, and talks continue. Neither defendant has spoken publicly.
A DOJ spokesperson, Gates McGavick, repeated on Wednesday that all choices followed protocol and the attorney general stayed out of it.
“These decisions were made through the proper channels, and the Attorney General had no role in them,” McGavick said.
But the lawmakers worry that oversight lapsed, potentially eroding trust in the system. They want the inspector general to dig into recusal processes and any undue sway.
This push for a probe comes as Pam Bondi faces growing heat from other fronts, including calls for her impeachment. Tensions boiled over during a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing on documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Bondi started by apologizing to victims in the room, promising thorough probes into any crimes. Yet, when grilled on the release of millions of pages, including videos and images, she pivoted to broader claims about cutting government bloat and ending political abuses.
Democrats tried to keep things on track, focusing on delays and mishaps in the rollout. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump last November, mandated the disclosures. Some say the department dragged its feet or botched sensitive details.
The session turned sharp when Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who pushed for the files, asked about errors in the process. Bondi shot back, calling him hypocritical and blaming “Trump derangement syndrome.” Massie fired off that she was dodging responsibility.
The clash fueled a Democratic drive for accountability. Back in February, Michigan Rep. Shri Thanedar vowed to file impeachment articles, claiming that Bondi put allegiance to Trump above her duties. Post-hearing, social media buzzed with demands from candidates and activists for her to step down.
Thanedar later said she had “disgraced the office she holds,” highlighting what he views as ongoing transparency failures at the Justice Department.
Betting sites captured the shift in mood. Kalshi’s odds of Bondi being the first Cabinet member out jumped from 12% on hearing day to 22% the next. Polymarket pegged her exit chances at 52%, a seven-point spike.
Trump rallied to her side on Truth Social, hailing her as tough and declaring himself fully cleared. He slammed critics as “Trump Deranged Radical Left Lunatics” and labeled Massie a “sanctimonious RINO,” dismissing the uproar as partisan noise.
As scrutiny mounts from the brother-related probe and impeachment threats, Bondi’s position grows precarious. The combined pressures underscore deeper rifts over how the Justice Department operates under her watch, with Democrats pressing for answers and reforms.
