President-elect Donald Trump’s Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi on Wednesday said she wants to get “back to basics” of using the Department of Justice to go after hardened criminals, drug trafficking and terrorists.

Ms. Bondi said during her confirmation hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee that the Justice Department would target gangs and cartels, as well as crimes at the border and those carried out by foreign adversaries.

“That is what the American people expect, and that is what they deserve from the Department of Justice,” Ms. Bondi said in her opening statement. “ If confirmed, I will do everything in my power — and it will be my great responsibility — to make America safe again.”

Ms. Bondi, 59, was tapped by Mr. Trump to lead the beleaguered department after his initial pick, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, became embroiled in purported ethics issues.

Ms. Bondi was the Florida attorney general from 2011-19.

On top of prosecuting street crimes, she said she wants to “restore confidence and integrity” to the DOJ.

SEE ALSO: Pam Bondi, AG nominee, says she will ‘fix’ the Bureau of Prisons

It was a swipe at current Attorney General Merrick Garland, who has dedicated department resources to prosecuting agitators from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol and for launching armed raids on nonviolent pro-life protesters.

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