Pam Bondi said Wednesday tackling violent crime in hotspots around the country will be a primary goal for the Justice Department if she’s confirmed as the next attorney general.

Ms. Bondi shared her vision for law enforcement by mentioning the looting taking place in parts of Los Angeles that are being scorched by wildfires, and zeroing in on terrorist attacks, such as the ISIS-inspired massacre in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.

“People want law and order. They want to be safe,” Ms. Bondi said, citing the 2024 county-level election map for California, which she said was “bright red.”

Ms. Bondi was prompted to share her thoughts on violent crime by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Republican, who cited statistics showing crime dropped 17% nationwide during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term and skyrocketed by 43% during the first two years President Biden was in office.

The FBI said last fall crime was down dramatically over the last year.

Ms. Blackburn also asked Ms. Bondi if she would uphold a law barring people from protesting outside of a judge’s home if the intent of the protest is to influence a judge’s decision in a major case.

The senator said current Attorney General Merrick Garland did not charge anyone who in 2022 protested outside of the homes of Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh after it was leaked the court was looking to overturn the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade.

In June 2022, police said they arrested a man with a gun, knife and zip ties outside Judge Kavanaugh’s house. Suspect Nicholas John Roske pleaded not guilty last year to an attempted murder charge in the case.  

Ms. Bondi said she will “faithfully enforce that law.”

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.