Attorney General Pam Bondi tells Axios her office is not prosecuting or investigating anyone for alleged hate speech, only for speech that she says unlawfully incites violence.
Why it matters: Bondi sought to clarify her comments during a Monday podcast in which she said the Justice Department would “absolutely target you, go after you, if you are targeting anyone with hate speech.”
- Her remarks drew criticism from across the political spectrum — including from some fellow MAGA Republicans, who as a group have historically been sensitive to curbs on free speech.
- But Bondi told Axios in a written statement that she was talking about criminal groups or people that incite violence, not those who said hateful things about the slaying last week of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a friend of Bondi’s.
What she’s saying: “Freedom of speech is sacred in our country, and we will never impede upon that right,” Bondi said in her statement.
- “My intention was to speak about threats of violence that individuals incite against others,” she added.
- “Under President Trump, the Department of Justice will be unabashed in our efforts to root out credible, violent threats. We will investigate organizations that pursue illegal activities, engage in political violence, violate our civil rights, and commit tax or nonprofit fraud.”
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