Bondi sparks conservative backlash with pledge to target 'hate speech'

Legal & Political Landscape - Charges were filed against Tyler Robinson for the murder of Charlie Kirk, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty [1][2] - FBI Director Cash Patel faced tough questioning from Congress regarding the Kirk shooting investigation and the Epstein files [2] - Criticism of Pam Bondi's comments on hate speech highlights tensions between free speech principles and responses to the Kirk assassination [19][20][21] - Concerns raised about potential government overreach in policing speech, with comparisons to thought police [29] Key Figures & Reactions - FBI Director Cash Patel's performance during congressional testimony was perceived as aimed at maintaining President Trump's confidence [16] - Pam Bondi faced backlash from conservatives for suggesting law enforcement should target hate speech [20][21] - Elected officials, including Speaker Johnson and Governor Shapiro, voiced concerns about the weaponization of free speech [23][29] Epstein Files - FBI Director Cash Patel testified on the Epstein files [2] - The Epstein files was a key part that Cash Patel was pressed on [9]