Two prominent U.S. Senators are intensifying pressure on Attorney General Pam Bondi to remove herself from the Justice Department’s antitrust review of major media mergers involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have publicly demanded AG Bondi’s recusal, alleging the process is mired in a “cesspool of corruption and political favoritism.” Their central concern stems from Bondi’s previous employment at the lobbying firm Ballard Partners.
Ballard Partners has been actively engaged by both Paramount and Netflix—key players in the ongoing bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns news. Federal disclosures confirm the firm has represented Paramount throughout the year and began working for Netflix in March 2025.
In a direct letter to Bondi, the senators asserted, “The corruption concerns related to this deal extend to your office.” They referenced existing allegations that Ballard Partners has already exerted inappropriate influence over antitrust decisions within the Trump administration.
When confronted with these recusal demands, Justice Department spokesperson Gates McGavick offered a standard response, stating, “All officials at the Department of Justice follow the guidance of career ethics officials.”
Ballard Partners fired back, labeling the senators’ letter a “blindly partisan” attack. The firm vehemently denied any unethical communication, stating, “We have never once communicated with the U.S. Attorney General about any Department of Justice matter… Period. Full stop. End of story.”
While Bondi is expected to dismiss the Democratic senators’ call, the controversy casts a shadow over a regulatory review that will reshape the media landscape. The outcome will not only decide the fate of Warner Bros. Discovery’s valuable assets but also test the credibility of the Trump administration’s claim to a fair and impartial process.
