In a striking turn of events, Attorney General Pam Bondi has found herself at the center of a heated debate over free speech after comments made on a popular podcast sparked widespread criticism, The Hill reported.
The controversy erupted after Bondi discussed the boundaries of free speech and hate speech on "The Katie Miller Podcast," leading to sharp rebukes from civil liberties advocates and conservative figures alike, followed by a detailed clarification on social media.
On Monday, an episode of "The Katie Miller Podcast," hosted by Katie Miller, wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, featured Bondi as a guest.
During the discussion, Bondi addressed the distinction between free speech and hate speech, particularly referencing an incident involving someone named Charlie.
She remarked, “There’s free speech and then there’s hate speech, and there is no place, especially now, especially after what happened to Charlie, in our society…”
Bondi also stated on the podcast, “We will absolutely target you, go after you, if you are targeting anyone with hate speech.”
Her words quickly drew attention, igniting criticism from various quarters who argued that her stance contradicted established legal protections.
The Foundation for Individual Rights, a civil liberties group, responded on X that day, declaring, “There is no hate speech exception to the First Amendment.”
Prominent media figures also weighed in, with Fox News’s Brit Hume noting, “Someone needs to explain to Ms. Bondi that so-called ‘hate speech,’ repulsive though it may be, is protected by the First Amendment.”
Megyn Kelly speculated on X that Bondi might have intended to focus on those planning violence, stating, “I am guessing, given the statements by Stephen Miller yesterday about targeting violent cells, she means those who actually plan violence.”
Other commentators, including Erick Erickson, Rod Dreher, and Mike Cernovich, criticized Bondi’s remarks, with some suggesting she retract her statements or even step down.
On Tuesday, Bondi addressed the backlash with a lengthy post on X, aiming to clarify her position on the issue.
She wrote, “Hate speech that crosses the line into threats of violence is NOT protected by the First Amendment. It’s a crime.”
Bondi added, “For far too long, we’ve watched the radical left normalize threats, call for assassinations, and cheer on political violence. That era is over.”
She further emphasized, “Free speech protects ideas, debate, even dissent, but it does NOT and will NEVER protect violence.”
