Justice department will never have an 'enemies list', Trump pick tells senators

Summary

President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks faced questioning from senators ahead of votes on their nominations
Pam Bondi - who's nominated for attorney general - told senators the justice department will never have an "enemies list", an idea originated by Trump's pick for Federal Bureau of Investigation head. She also swerved on questions on the result of the 2020 election
In a separate hearing, Marco Rubio, Trump's nominee for secretary of state, criticised the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
In between questions, the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee announced a ceasefire has been reached in Gaza - follow those live updates here

Live Reporting

Edited by Emily Atkinson in Washington DC and Matt Spivey in London, with Ana Faguy on Capitol Hill

Bondi's confirmation hearing beginspublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Getty Images
Pam Bondi's confirmation hearing for the role of attorney general has just started.
She will be facing questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has a Republican majority but members from both parties.
We'll be bringing you the key lines plus analysis from our reporter in the room - hit watch live to follow along.
Hush descends as Trump's justice chief pick enterspublished at 14:37 Greenwich Mean Time
Ana Faguy
Reporting from Capitol Hill
Image source, Reuters
The hearing just lowered to a whisper as Bondi entered the room wearing a black pin striped suit.
She smiled ear-to-ear as Chuck Grassley, the Republican chair of this committee, escorted her to her seat.
Her first hug, once she got there, Florida Senator Rick Scott, of her home state.
We should be hearing from Bondi shortly.
Pam Bondi, Trump's attorney general pick, to face Senate grillingpublished at 14:23 Greenwich Mean Time
Ana Faguy
Reporting from Capitol Hill
I'm inside a hearing room in the Hart senate building awaiting former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's hearing.
Right now, there are a handful of camera crews and reporters around, as well as family and friends of Bondi.
This is a big day for the Bondi family, and a particularly unique experience which political appointees find themselves in every few years: a job interview in front of your family, friends and dozens of cameras.
Personal guests of Bondi have been lining up and taking pictures in front of the dais in the minutes before the hearing kicks off.
Soon the room will be hushed and we'll hear from Bondi herself. Stick with us.
How does confirmation voting work?published at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time
Rachel Looker
Live reporter
Both Rubio and Bondi need to be confirmed by a full Senate vote to become official members of Trump's cabinet.
We'll see one of the first public steps of the process play out today.
Rubio and Bondi will appear before two separate Senate committees this morning.
Senators will take turns asking questions after each nominee delivers their opening statement.
Committee members later vote to report a nominee favourably, unfavourably or without recommendation to the whole Senate. All 100 senators then vote for or against the nominee.
A nomination that clears in committee typically does not face major opposition on the full Senate floor (where a nominee needs a simple majority to be confirmed).
It's important to note that Republicans control the upper chamber 53 to 47. And once inaugurated on 20 January, Vice President-elect JD Vance can break any ties.
Senate braces for day of hearingspublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time
Ana Faguy
Reporting from Capitol Hill
Good morning from Capitol Hill.
It’s a hectic day in Washington as multiple Trump appointees have confirmation hearings on the Hill and the city continues its preparations for inauguration.
On the bus ride into the Capitol, the extra security was visible lining the streets.
Inside the Capitol, it’s business as usual for the most part, except for the nominees waiting to hear how their nominations fare.
We’ll bring you the latest from Capitol Hill, stick with us.
First up is Pam Bondi, Trump's pick for attorney generalpublished at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, EPA
Pam Bondi is Trump's nominee for attorney general - his second choice, after Matt Gaetz withdrew.
Bondi's nomination has so far proved less controversial than Gaetz, who faced scrutiny over sexual misconduct allegations which he denied.
Bondi, a professional prosecutor, served as Florida's first female attorney general between 2011 and 2019.
Her relationship with Trump goes back years. She has supported him since his 2016 election campaign and told voters at a recent rally that she considers him a "friend".
She is a chair at America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank founded by former Trump staff members, leading its legal arm.
Bondi was also part of Trump's legal team during his first impeachment trial and has criticised the criminal cases against him.
In 2016, Trump and Bondi came under scrutiny over a $25,000 (£19,982) contribution he had made in 2013 to her re-election campaign for Florida attorney general.
The payment was made at a time when Bondi's office was reportedly considering whether to open a fraud investigation into Trump University. The investigation never happened and Bondi denied that decision was influenced by the donation.
Bondi's hearing is due to start at 09:30 EST (14:30 GMT). Stay with us for the key lines as it gets under way.
What does a secretary of state do?published at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time
The US secretary of state is one of the most coveted jobs in a president's administration.
They serve as the president's chief foreign affairs adviser, tasked with carrying out the president's policies.
If Rubio is confirmed to the role, he will lead Trump's foreign policy agenda.
His other duties would include:
- Conducting foreign affairs negotiations
- Negotiating treaties and agreements
- Supervising US immigration laws abroad
- Advising the president on ambassadors and consuls
Who is Marco Rubio?published at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, EPA
Florida Senator Marco Rubio is Trump's pick for secretary of state, a role that would effectively make him the top US diplomat.
A harsh critic turned Trump loyalist, Rubio had reportedly been gunning for the job in TV appearances and in Trump's orbit, touting his foreign policy experience.
First elected to the Senate in 2010, he is the son of working class Cuban immigrants. If approved, Rubio, 53, will become the first Latino secretary of state in the nation's history.
He is considered a foreign policy "hawk" - meaning someone who takes hard-line positions - towards Iran and China.
Rubio ran as a presidential contender against Trump in 2016 and the two developed a rivalry.
Trump occasionally referred to him as "Little Marco". But despite that rivalry, Rubio endorsed Trump and campaigned for him.
More Trump nominees come under microscopepublished at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time
Emily Atkinson
Live editor, in Washington DC
Good morning.
Not far from the BBC bureau here in the chilly US capital, confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks are about to enter their second day.
(For the uninitiated, a confirmation hearing is a chance for senators to grill nominees on their suitability for the role before it goes to a vote - but more on this shortly.)
There are several people to get through - our focus today will be on Pam Bondi for attorney general, Marco Rubio for secretary of state, and Russell Vought for director of the Office of Management and Budget.
We had also been expecting Kristi Noem - Trump's , externalpick to lead the Department of Homeland Security - but her hearing's been postponed by two days.
With analysis from our BBC colleagues on Capitol Hill, we'll be covering the key lines on this page. Stay tuned.