Tipsheet

Bondi Attempts to Clarify Her 'Hate Speech' Remarks That Set Off Conservatives

Leah Barkoukis
Leah Barkoukis  |  September 16, 2025 10:30 AM

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday attempted to clarify remarks she made about "hate speech" that set off conservatives, with critics pointing to Charlie Kirk’s own words to push back on the AG.

During an interview on "The Katie Miller Podcast," Bondi argued “there’s free speech and then there’s hate speech,” saying the government would go after those who target individuals with hate speech. But as The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression pointed out, "there is no hate speech exception to the First Amendment." 

On Tuesday, she attempted to clarify her remarks.

Hate speech that crosses the line into threats of violence is NOT protected by the First Amendment. It’s a crime. For far too long, we’ve watched the radical left normalize threats, call for assassinations, and cheer on political violence. That era is over. 

Under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), it is a federal crime to transmit “any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another.” Likewise, 18 U.S.C. § 876 and 18 U.S.C. § 115 make it a felony to threaten public officials, members of Congress, or their families. 

You cannot call for someone’s murder. You cannot swat a Member of Congress. You cannot dox a conservative family and think it will be brushed off as “free speech.” These acts are punishable crimes, and every single threat will be met with the full force of the law. 

Free speech protects ideas, debate, even dissent but it does NOT and will NEVER protect violence. 

It is clear this violent rhetoric is designed to silence others from voicing conservative ideals. 

We will never be silenced. Not for our families, not for our freedoms, and never for Charlie. His legacy will not be erased by fear or intimidation.