Lawyer Common Pam Bondi has been in every single place these days—screaming about deportations, threatening 20-year jail sentences for anybody who a lot as exhales close to a Tesla, and doing her half to kill school scholarship packages for college students of coloration.
However what she hasn’t finished is use her energy to analyze precise threats, just like the arson assault on the dwelling of Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
After days of silence, Bondi lastly addressed the assault on Wednesday, calling it “horrific” and saying she “firmly” believes the arsonist needed to kill Shapiro. However she stopped in need of calling it “domestic terrorism,” a label that Bondi and Republicans she’s aligned herself with have thrown at peaceable Tesla protesters with out hesitation.
The message is evident: If President Donald Trump doesn’t see a political benefit, Bondi doesn’t see against the law.
On Thursday, Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer publicly referred to as on the Division of Justice to deal with the assault with the seriousness it deserves, together with investigating it as a doable hate crime.
Cody Balmer, who was arrested for allegedly beginning the hearth at Shapiro’s home, reportedly focused the Jewish governor for his pro-Israel stance—an assault that occurred throughout Passover. Balmer is at present being held in jail with out bail.
“In conjunction with the timing of the attack during Passover, Governor Shapiro’s visible embrace of his Jewish faith, and the context of rising antisemitism globally and across the country raise serious concerns about antisemitic motivation,” Schumer, who’s the highest-ranking Jewish public official in U.S. historical past, wrote in a letter to Bondi.
“Our federal authorities must bring the full weight of our civil-rights laws to bear in examining this matter. No person or public official should be targeted because of their faith, and no community should wonder whether such acts will be met with silence,” he added.
The DOJ and the White Home haven’t publicly commented on Schumer’s request, however Bondi isn’t the one one who’s been quiet.
Shapiro informed NBC Information that Trump has but to name him or situation any significant condemnation. When requested about it earlier this week, Trump dismissed the suspect as “just a whack job,” whereas additionally noting, pointedly, that the person “was not a fan of Trump.”
Jewish Democratic Council of America CEO Halie Soifer criticized Trump’s silence, noting his earlier assaults on Shapiro.
“Last year, Trump didn’t hesitate to call Josh Shapiro a ‘highly overrated Jewish governor.’ Now, nearly four days after Gov. Shapiro was targeted in an act of political violence—reportedly due to his position on Israel—Trump hasn’t clearly condemned it,” she stated.
In the meantime, some Republicans have totally victim-blamed Shapiro for the assault. Rep. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, a possible 2026 challenger to Shapiro, stated throughout a radio interview that the governor’s rhetoric could have fueled the attacker’s rage.
“The left’s got to look in the mirror here. Our hearts go out to the Shapiro family on this, but you know, they gotta tone it down too. I mean, every action Josh Shapiro has taken so far against the president has either been a lawsuit or a falsehood,” Meuser stated.
Although Vice President JD Vance—hardly identified for his ethical readability—referred to as the assault “really disgusting violence” on Sunday, that sort of obscure half-condemnation isn’t almost sufficient.
Shapiro’s dwelling was destroyed. He and his household had been focused. But the response from the Trump administration—which has been so busy supposedly combating antisemitism—has been largely crickets.
