U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi engaged in combative exchanges with Democrats at a Senate hearing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, as she defended herself from accusations the Justice Department was being weaponized to serve President Donald Trump and target his political rivals.

Bondi was making the first appearance at the Senate's judiciary committee since her confirmation. She said the Justice Department was "returning to our core mission of fighting real crime," praising local authorities who have co-operated with the administration's efforts to send National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., and Memphis.

But Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the committee, set the tone early by criticizing Bondi for firing career prosecutors and agents who worked on investigations

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