President Donald Trump's tightening grip over the Justice Department to target his political opponents and lawmakers' increasing calls for the release of more files from federal investigations into deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein took center stage at a contentious Senate hearing Tuesday for Attorney General Pam Bondi.

In Washington, the US Senate on Monday evening failed to pass a short-term budget to keep federal agencies open. Legal experts suggest, Democrats have almost no chance of extracting real concessions from the Republicans.

The attorney general largely sidestepped questions from Democratic lawmakers and defended the Trump administration’s law enforcement record, including its recent federal immigration crackdown in U.S.

We’d like to hear from you about how you’re experiencing the government shutdown, whether you’re a federal employee who can’t work right now or someone who is feeling the effects of shuttered services in your everyday life.

Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn is locked in a tight and combative race with Attorney General Ken Paxton. Rep. Wesley Hunt presented himself as above the fray.

Attorney General Pam Bondi will testify before Congress Tuesday. The hearing comes as concerns the Justice Department is being weaponized to target President Trump's political adversaries grow.

Trump's pick to lead the justice department is also being questioned about pressure to investigate the president's adversaries.

A former federal prosecutor highlighted some of what he said were unusual tactics Attorney General Pam Bondi employed against Democratic senators in a combative hearing. President Donald Trump's attorney general appeared Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee,