Things got heated fast on Capitol Hill Tuesday when U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi clapped back at Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in what might go down as one of the most fiery exchanges in recent Senate memory.
Blumenthal tried to go after Bondi by dredging up her previous legal work in private practice. He accused her former firm, Ballard Partners, of improperly lobbying the Justice Department to drop an investigation into a client during a corporate merger involving American Express Global Business Travel. Specifically, he asked what conversations she may have had with firm founder Brian Ballard.
Bad move.
Bondi didn’t just deflect. She came in swinging.
“Sen. Blumenthal, I cannot believe that you would accuse me of impropriety when you lied about your military service,” Bondi fired back, interrupting him mid question. “You lied, you admitted you lied to be elected a U.S. senator. How dare you? I’m a career prosecutor. Don’t you ever challenge my integrity.”
Bondi then took the gloves all the way off. “Do not question my ability to be fair and impartial as attorney general, or anything regarding my former firm, Ballard Partners.”
BREAKING: Pam Bondi just DEMOLISHED Senator Blumenthal after he ACCUSED her of impropriety:
"I CANNOT BELIEVE that you would ACCUSE ME of impropriety when YOU LIED about your MILITARY SERVICE."
"You LIED to be elected a US Senator."
"Don't YOU EVER challenge MY integrity. I… pic.twitter.com/Fx0reJH5J7
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) October 7, 2025
Blumenthal, of course, is infamous for having falsely claimed he served in Vietnam. During his first campaign in 2010, he admitted to “misspeaking” in past speeches where he implied he was a combat veteran. The truth? He served in the Marine Corps Reserve and was stationed in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut. He never stepped foot in Vietnam.
It wasn’t a minor slip either. According to The New York Times, Blumenthal made the claim several times in public speeches. When caught, he chalked it up to a few “misplaced words” out of hundreds of speeches and claimed the misstatements were “absolutely unintentional.”
Still, the damage was done, at least to his credibility. Somehow, the voters in deep blue Connecticut didn’t seem to care. He was reelected in 2022 with nearly 58 percent of the vote, defeating Republican challenger Leora Levy with ease.
But as Democrats fight over the future of their aging leadership, Blumenthal, now 79, is once again in the spotlight. With the potential of a Squad style primary challenge looming over Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Blumenthal may be realizing the days of coasting on blue state loyalty are numbered.
Bondi’s takedown reminded everyone that past lies don’t just disappear and that not everyone on the Hill is afraid to say what the rest of us are thinking.