• Attorney General Pam Bondi clarified her controversial remarks on hate speech after backlash.
• Comments made following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk sparked bipartisan criticism.
• Bondi asserted that hate speech is not protected under the First Amendment when it incites violence.
• Several conservative commentators and lawmakers called for her resignation and condemned her stance.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa revocations for those celebrating Kirk's death.

Attorney General Pam Bondi faced significant backlash for her comments on "The Katie Miller Podcast" regarding hate speech, stating the U.S. Justice Department "will absolutely target" individuals using hate speech, especially following the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Bondi emphasized, "There's free speech and then there's hate speech," adding, "... in our society, … after what happened to Charlie, there is no place" for such speech, indicating a wake of targeted law enforcement against it, according to The Hill and ABC News.

Bondi's remarks came under fire from various quarters, including a bipartisan group of commentators and politicians, some even within her party. Conservative commentator Brit Hume remarked, “Someone needs to explain to Ms. Bondi that so-called 'hate speech,' … is protected by the First Amendment," indicating that her stance contradicted established legal interpretations of free speech, as discussed in both The Hill and ABC News.

In response to the criticism, Bondi reiterated that "hate speech that crosses the line into threats of violence is NOT protected by the First Amendment," and she elaborated on social media that such actions will be prosecuted. She stated, "You cannot call for someone's murder... These acts are punishable crimes,” aligning her comments with legal precedents concerning speech that incites violence, according to both Newsweek and India Times.

Additionally, Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Bondi's approach, insisting on the importance of not censoring "disfavored viewpoints" in America. He mentioned that while individuals have the right to express objectionable opinions, there can be consequences from employers who find such expressions unacceptable. He argued, "That’s not the government censoring speech," reflecting a broader debate on the essential boundaries of free speech, as reported by The Hill and ABC News.

On another front, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa revocations for any foreigners who celebrated Kirk's assassination, indicating a punitive approach to what he considers hate speech. He stated, "America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens," suggesting that the government is exploring significant avenues for regulating speech in response to the incident, as mentioned in both India Times and ABC News.